Should I be worried?

[Riki]

I found out today by accident (the doctor was talking too loud) that one of my fellow dialysis patients tested positive for C-diff.  He usually sits next to me, and we've sat together in the waiting room and chatted in the last few days as well.  I don't know how this particular bug is spread.  I didn't see him today, so I don't know if he was shipped off to the bigger hospital in Nova Scotia or if he was in one of the isolation rooms.  I'm one of those people who don't get regular things like flu or colds, I get the weird crap.  I really don't want to get this or any other superbug, but I'm not sure if I should be worried or not

[jbeany]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clostridium_difficile

Well, I sure wouldn't be thrilled! 

[Riki]

ok.. so the idiot Neph who never washes his hands is NOT to touch me

[jeannea]

Yeah. Everyone must do really good hand washing. I've had c. diff. My infectious disease doctor told me that hand sanitizer does not stop the spread of c. diff. You need hand washing with soap and running water. In good news, my family has always visited me in the hospital, even with the infection, and they never caught it. But for those with lower immune systems it can be a real problem.

[Riki]

The nurses are great for hand washing.. they do both, wash with soap and water, and use hand sanitizer.. it's the doctor that I worry about.  he's been told several times that he needs to be more vigilant with hand washing, but he doesn't seem to want to listen.. perhaps it's because it's us, the patients, who are telling him to wash his  damn hands.

[sullidog]

I had C diff and luckily didn't pass it to anyone.

[Riki]

I don't want to get it, but there are also a few in the unit who are fighting cancer, along with kidney failure, one of which is a close friend who's been through the wringer lately.  I don't want her to get it.  Besides that, I'm not even supposed to know that this patient has it.  I heard the doctor say it, and I doubt I'm the only one who did

[jeannea]

I would think you could ask the doctor kindly but firmly to please wash his hands. It's ok to do that. Not rude in the least. If he won't listen, maybe a private conversation about what you overheard would be appropriate.

[bevvy5]

My husband almost died from C-dif that wasn't diagnosed for several days.  It is nasty.

Anyway I am cutting and posting something from an FAQ about it that corresponds to what we were told when he had it:

How is Clostridium difficile transmitted?
Clostridium difficile is shed in feces. Any surface, device, or material (e.g., commodes, bathing tubs, and electronic rectal thermometers) that becomes contaminated with feces may serve as a reservoir for the Clostridium difficile spores. Clostridium difficile spores are transferred to patients mainly via the hands of healthcare personnel who have touched a contaminated surface or item.

[KarenInWA]

They tested me for that the last time I was in the hospital. Thank God that test was negative!

Yeah, I think you have every right to get rude if you have to re that doctor and his handwashing "skills".

KarenInWA