How to Clean House After C-Diff Infection

9/16/2020 (Permalink)

After dealing with a C. diff infection, it's important to thoroughly clean your home. Call the Fort Worth biohazard cleanup experts at SERVPRO today.

By now, the term “coronavirus” is a household name. The pandemic has elevated concerns about communicable diseases and has raised awareness of the importance of hygiene in prevention.

C. diff (clostridioides difficile) causes bacterial infections such as colitis or diarrhea. Because of how contagious and drug-resistant it is, C. diff is considered a public health concern by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SERVPRO is committed to safeguarding the Fort Worth community from viruses and harmful bacteria. We’ll instruct you on how to clean a house after C Diff infection. We’re also on call to assist with infectious disease emergencies year-round - even on weekends and holidays. 

What is C. Diff? 

C. diff is bacteria that can be found in fecal matter, soil, water, surfaces, and sometimes in food. This bacteria is part of the natural flora of a normal digestive system but does have the potential to become toxic. 

Antibiotics can throw the body system off balance by killing off beneficial bacteria. Beneficial bacteria deficiency allows clostridioides difficile (C. diff) to overpopulate and become infectious. Spores from toxic C. diff that exit the body can make others ill.

C. diff causes colitis (inflammation of the colon). Bacterial toxins attack the lining of the intestines and cause illness. Symptoms begin to surface after a few days (or up to a few weeks) from the start of the infection.

Diarrhea for several days is the main symptom, but other signs of C. diff are fever, loss of appetite, nausea, or abdominal tenderness and pain. This infection has the potential to cause permanent colon damage and could become fatal.

Once a patient’s lab results come back positive for C. diff, the patient will be put on antibiotics for 10 days. Once the symptoms clear up, a patient may still be carrying the infected bacteria making them contagious or subject to reinfection.

In rare cases, surgery or fecal transplants may be necessary to treat those with repeat infections.

How Does C. Diff Spread?

Like other communicable diseases, C. diff spreads without adequate hygiene. The infectious bacteria exit the body through fecal matter. When particles from human waste end up on hands, objects, or land on surfaces they cause contamination that will make others sick.

The spread of C. diff can be mitigated by hand washing, disposing of contaminated materials, and communication between healthcare workers. Consistent and proper use of PPE is also a proactive measure to prevent the spread of infectious bacteria.

C. diff is a common biohazard found in healthcare facilities such as hospitals. Infected patients produce loose stools that allow the bacteria to scatter. 

Because of how contagious this condition can be, it’s important to know how to clean a house after a C-diff infection.

C Diff Cleaning Procedures at Home

While this bacteria is known to be resistant to antibiotics and cleaners, there are steps you can take in disinfecting your house from C. diff.

C. diff can live on surfaces for up to five months. With this in mind, maintain proactive hygiene habits when someone in the home has been ill with C. diff. Continue to clean after the person has recovered.

Thoroughly clean the bathrooms or any other area of the house where an “accident” happened. As for C. diff cleaning products, hydrogen peroxide is considered to be most effective against clostridioides difficile bacteria.

Carefully dispose of soiled linens, clothing, etc. These items are contaminated and must be removed. Use PPE such as gloves to safely discard contaminated items.

Everyone in the household must wash their hands frequently. The bacteria may be lingering on surfaces. Handwashing is even more important when handling food. 

Cleaning Recommendations to Prevent C-Diff Transmission

Because this infectious bacteria is so aggressive, it’s important to be consistent. Here are state agency recommendations for disinfecting your house from C. diff:

• Schedule routine cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces and materials plus air vents and carpets.
• Use an EPA-approved disinfectant from EPA List K.
• Using the appropriate dilution, apply cleaners with a clean cloth or spray bottle.
• When cleaning floors, replace mop water regularly.
• C. diff cleaning procedures for laundry include regular detergent but with the use of hot water (25 minutes wash at 160 °F). Bleach is optional.

Healthcare facilities should take additional sanitation precautions with shared equipment and when preparing rooms for new patients.

Contact the SERVPRO Professionals for Fort Worth for C-Diff Cleaning and Other Viruses

SERVPRO of North Richland Hills is your expert team for Fort Worth biohazard cleaning! Our technicians are specially trained to perform thorough and safe cleanup according to state and federal guidelines. In addition to C. diff cases, we’ve handled biohazardous situations involving:

• COVID-19
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Infectious disease
• Rodent infestation
• Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup
• Suicide
• Unattended death

We are prepared to respond to any biohazardous emergency in the Fort Worth, Texas area. How to clean house after c-diff infection properly includes the appropriate personal protective equipment and the proper EPA-registered cleaners. Households may not have access to all the supplies needed, but we do! We’ll do a thorough and professional cleaning.

SERVPRO of North Richland Hills offers free consultations or free bids (completely confidential) for commercial properties. Make the first step in preventing the spread of C. diff now and call us at (817) 589-1499. We’re available 24/7.