What is C. diff and How Is It Safely Cleaned?

C. diff (Clostridioides difficile) is a highly contagious bacterium that can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, most notably persistent diarrhea, fever, nausea, abdominal cramping, and in serious cases, colitis—inflammation of the colon. It most commonly affects individuals who have recently taken antibiotics, been hospitalized, or have weakened immune systems, though it can spread in any environment if proper precautions aren’t taken. The bacteria produce resilient spores that can survive on surfaces for 70 to 90 days, making thorough and proper disinfection critical to preventing ongoing transmission.

C. diff is primarily spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or fecal matter. These spores are resistant to many standard cleaning products, which means that conventional disinfectants are often ineffective. To properly clean and disinfect areas contaminated by C. diff, EPA-registered sporicidal disinfectants—such as those containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide—must be used.

C Diff Cleanup

The C. diff cleaning process involves a multi-step approach:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Technicians wear gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection to prevent personal exposure.
• Soft and Porous Materials : All soft and porous items that are impacted should be disposed of. Disinfectant for C diff is not rated for soft and porous items like carpet, sofas, and other porous materials
• Cleaning Hard Surfaces: High-touch surfaces should be wiped down.
• Disinfection: High-touch surfaces hard surfaces should be wiped down and disinfectant applied using an electrostatic sprayer or fogging machine using C. diff-effective solutions.
• Disposal: All soft, porous items that can’t be cleaned should be disposed of

Preventing C Diff and Reinfection

Preventing C. diff requires a strong focus on hand hygiene (especially handwashing with soap and water, as alcohol-based sanitizers are ineffective against spores), judicious use of antibiotics, and rigorous cleaning protocols in both medical and residential settings. For properties affected by C. diff contamination, professional remediation services are highly recommended to ensure the environment is restored to a safe and sanitary condition.