Using Hand Hygiene To Eliminate the Other Superbug Published April 5, 2013 By Alicia Astorga 59th Medical Wing JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- A more aggressive strain of the dangerous Clostridium difficile bacteria has appeared, and the new superbug is not only resistant to some antibiotics, but also produces toxins more harmful than previous strains. Clostridium difficile, also known as C.difficile or C. diff, is a spore-forming, toxin-producing bacteria whose symptoms may be mild to moderate watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In severe cases, inflammation of the colon or patches of raw tissue may bleed or produce pus. Symptoms may include watery diarrhea 10 to 15 times per day, fever, blood or pus in stool, nausea, dehydration, loss of appetite, weight loss and severe abdominal cramps. The bacteria mostly affects the elderly in hospitals or in long-term care facilities. Infections typically occur after the use of antibiotics, though it has also been found in people who have never been hospitalized or taken antibiotics. Some antibiotics used to treat infections can also get rid of the normal bacterial flora found in the colon. This causes the C. diff to quickly grow out of control. The majority of infections occur in health care settings where bacteria are spread mainly on hands from person to person. The bacteria is often transmitted environmentally by touching cart handles, bedrails, tables, toilets, sinks, stethoscopes, thermometers, telephones and remote controls. About one-fourth of persons with C.diff will get a recurring infection. In some cases, treatment includes not taking the antibiotic that triggered the infection. This may be enough to relieve the symptoms. In other cases, an antibiotic may be prescribed to keep C.difficile from growing. This will allow the normal bacterial flora of the colon to grow. Other options may include surgery to remove the diseased portion of the colon or treatment by fecal transplants. The later treatment involves placing stool from a healthy donor, often a relative, in the colon of the infected person to restore normal bacterial flora, and as a consequence eliminate the life-threatening infection. How can you prevent the spread of C.diff? A good way to keep germs at bay is by exercising proper hand hygiene. Soap and water is more effective than alcohol-based sanitizers because sanitizers will not kill the C. diff spores. Contaminated surfaces should be sanitized with products that contain bleach to destroy spores. Practicing good hand hygiene will keep this superbug off your hands and help prevent the transmission of harmful bacteria to other people and the environment.