11/11/25 Public Health Education Topic: C. Diff

Per CDC

Key points

• C. diff is a germ that causes diarrhea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon) and can be life-threatening.

• C. diff can affect anyone. Most cases of C. diff infection occur when you've been taking antibiotics or not long after you've finished the antibiotic course.

• Talk with a healthcare professional about your risk for developing C. diff.

Symptoms

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Stomach tenderness or pain

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea

  
  

Complications

Common

• Dehydration

• Inflammation of the colon, known as colitis

Rare

• Serious intestinal condition, such as toxic megacolon

• Sepsis, the body's extreme response to an infection

• Death

Who is at risk

While C. diff infection can affect anyone, most cases occur when you’ve been taking antibiotics or soon after you’ve finished taking antibiotics. People are up to 10 times more likely to get C. diff infection while taking an antibiotic or during the three months after, with longer courses potentially doubling their risk.

Other risk factors

• Older age (65 or older)

• Recent stay at a hospital or nursing home

• A weakened immune system, such as organ transplant patients taking immunosuppressive drugs or people with HIV/AIDS or cancer

• Previous infection with C. diff or known exposure to the germs

Keep in mind

You can still get C. diff infection even if you have none of these risk factors.

For more information visit: About C. diff | C. diff | CDC