{"id":6822,"date":"2016-11-14T14:13:18","date_gmt":"2016-11-14T19:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.229.122.34\/en\/?page_id=6822"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:56:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:56:31","slug":"clostridium-difficile-c-difficile","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/en\/quality-safety\/reporting\/indicator-reporting\/clostridium-difficile-c-difficile\/","title":{"rendered":"Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)"},"content":{"rendered":"

C.difficile<\/em> is just one of the many types of bacteria that can be found in the environment and the intestines.\u00a0 For most people, it does not pose a health risk.\u00a0 However, C.difficile<\/em> associated disease (CDAD) can sometimes occur when antibiotics are prescribed.\u00a0 Antibiotics work by killing off bacteria, the bad bacteria-but also the good bacteria.\u00a0 This can allow the C.difficile<\/em> bacteria to multiply, which may cause diarrhea and can damage the bowel.<\/p>\n

CDAD is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in health care facilities.\u00a0 The effects of CDAD are usually mild by can sometimes be more severe.\u00a0 In severe cases, surgery may be needed, and in extreme cases CDAD may cause death.<\/p>\n

For further information, view the C. difficile Patient Information Sheet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rates of C. difficile<\/em><\/h2>\n

It is important to note the C.difficile<\/em> rates, as in the case for all infections, can fluctuate over the course of a year for a number of reasons.\u00a0 For example in winter, we admit more patients with respiratory infections.\u00a0 An increase of respiratory infections often results in increased use of antibiotics, a leading factor in new cases of C. difficile.<\/em><\/p>\n

When The Ottawa Hospital experience cases of C. difficile,<\/em> they are usually contained in a limited geographic area or unit of the hospital.\u00a0 Also, compared to the overall number of patients admitted each year, these cases are relatively low in number. The Ottawa Hospital follows a number of procedures to control and manage new cases of C. difficile<\/em>.\u00a0 As described in the provincial best practice standards for managing C.difficile<\/em> we:<\/p>\n