Is C. Diff Airborne?

In this article, we will take a close look at Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. diff. We will explore whether C. diff is airborne, how one can get infected, and effective prevention methods. We will also discuss the bacterium's behavior, its impact on the human colon, and its prevalence in healthcare settings.

Author - Jakub Gwiazdecki

Fifth year medical student at the Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava.

Jakub used MediSearch to find sources for this blog.

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Is C diff airborne?

Yes, airborne transmission of C. diff is possible and is recognized as one of the transmission risks. It is one of the contributing factors for C. diff infection persistence in hospitals [1]. However, airborne transmission is not the main transmission pathway.

One way C. diff can get into the air is during patient care. C. diff spores can become airborne as aerosols. In this form, C. diff can remain on objects and surfaces for a long time [2].

Some patients infected with C. diff can also release the bacterium into the air when exhaling. The air around one in ten affected patients can test positive for the bacterium [3].

Also, airborne C. diff is high in swine meat production. Nearly 70% of air samples can be positive for C. diff spores [4].

What is C. diff?

C. diff is shorthand for Clostridium difficile, an anaerobic bacterium [5] that can cause gastrointestinal problems [6].

A characteristic of this pathogen is its ability to produce highly resistant spores. In this form, the bacteria can survive for years in unfavorable conditions [7].

The bacterium C. diff can be part of the gut bacteria in healthy individuals [8]. However, its mere presence does not lead directly to a disease.

C. diff does not attack humans primarily. It only causes infections when an opportunity presents itself. Therefore, it is considered an opportunistic pathogen [9].

In mild infection cases, C. diff causes self-limiting diarrhea [6]. In severe infection, the infection can present as fulminant colitis, which is a life-threatening condition [10, 5].

Clostridium difficile is a typical and highly transmissible pathogen in hospitals, leading to nosocomial infections [10, 9].

These hospital-acquired infections are particularly dangerous in patients with a weakened immune system and gut bacteria imbalance, such as those with inflammatory bowel disease [9] or after antibiotic treatment [11].

What are the symptoms of C. diff infection?

The symptoms of C. diff may range from mild to life-threatening. However, the common signs of a mild Clostridium difficile infection include:

diarrhea – often watery [12],
abdominal pain or cramps [13],
fever [13],
nausea [6],
loss of appetite [6].

In severe infections, diarrhea can become bloody [13].

Generally, diarrhea is problematic in serious C. diff disease, as it can occur more than ten times daily [12].

The frequent water loss in severe cases can lead to subsequent dehydration [12].

How can you get C. diff?

You can most probably get a C. diff infection after or while taking antibiotics. During antibiotic therapy, many of the good bacteria in the gut are killed, too [6].

If you have Clostridium in your gastrointestinal tract [8] or you contact it while you are on antibiotics, it can lead to a disease [6].

The highest risk of infection with C. diff when on antibiotics is when the treatment lasts longer than 7 days [6].

The major transmission route for getting C. diff into the body is direct contact with contaminated things like:

food,
surfaces,
objects.

The bacteria comes from the feces of the infected person [13, 6] or a carrier [8].

C. diff spreads when people touch food, surfaces, or objects contaminated with feces from a person with C. diff. The bacterium comes from feces, and you can develop an infection if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your mouth [13, 6].

However, C. diff can also be transmitted by air. The bacteria's spores can spread through aerosols on objects and food [2].

When you suffer from a gut bacteria imbalance, like inflammatory bowel disease, you are at higher risk of a Clostridium difficile infection [9].

Improper hygiene can cause C. diff, especially in hospitals [5]. The bacterium can be contracted only by visiting, touching a contaminated object and later touching your mouth without washing your hands.

How do you protect yourself from C. diff?

The most important way to protect against C. diff is hygiene. Always remember to wash your hands properly, especially before eating and after using the bathroom [13, 12, 9].

The next protective measure against Clostridium difficile is avoiding unnecessary antibiotics. They lead to a gut bacteria imbalance, increasing the chance of C. diff proliferation and infection. Therefore, you should take antibiotics only when prescribed by a doctor for bacterial infections [13, 12].

Another way to decrease the risk of C. diff infection is to keep bathrooms and kitchens clean. This can prevent the spread of the bacteria. Effective disinfection should be done using products that include bleach, which effectively kills the bacterium [13, 12, 9].

To protect yourself from C. diff, it is also important to avoid direct contact with people who have diarrhea and, if possible, not use the same bathroom [9].