Doctor and senior woman wearing facemasks during coronavirus and flu outbreak. Virus protection. COVID-2019..

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently modified its infection control guidance concerning C. difficile. The update corrects certain information from a Nov. 30 update.

“The C. difficile can survive in the environment (e.g., on floors, bed rails or around toilet seats) in its spore form for up to 6 months,” according to the new CMS update.

“Rigorously cleaning the environment removes C. difficile spores, and can help prevent transmission of the organism. Cleaning equipment used for residents with C. difficile with a 1:10 dilution of sodium hypochlorite (nine parts water to one part bleach) will also reduce the spread of the organism. Once mixed, the solution is effective for 24 hours.”

For more information, and to view the infection control guidance, visit http://www.ihca.com/AcrobatFiles/R55SOMA.pdf.