15 Household Items That Can Make You Sick

Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that causes colitis (inflammation of the colon). You can pick it up by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with feces, which is where the bacterium lives. C. diff is commonly spread via healthcare workers due to their close contact with bacteria in hospitals. People with weak immune systems, those taking long courses of antibiotics, and the elderly have the greatest risk of contracting it, but the bacterium’s long life span makes it a potent threat for everyone; C. diff can contaminate surfaces like toilets, bath tubs, and bed linens for up to five months! It can also be spread through hand-to-hand contact, so always wash your hands thoroughly whenever you are in a hospital or any healthcare setting, as well as if you come into contact with someone who works in healthcare. Soap and water are the best weapons against C. diff, but an alcohol-based hand wash works well, too.