Clostridium difficile (C.diff) is a bacterial infection in the intestines that is commonly spread throughout hospitals and nursing homes. In fact, the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 500,000 people across the country contract C.diff each year, proving fatal in 15,000 of those cases.

To reduce these stats, four hospitals banded together to stop the spread of C.diff. According to WXXI News reporting, the hospitals are sharing procedures to diagnose the bacteria sooner, and limiting the use of antibiotics and stepping up their cleaning procedures.

This collaborative approach has paid off. From 2011 through 2015, the four Rochester hospitals saw a 36 percent decrease in C.diff infections.

The hospitals use proper dilutions of bleach products along with good old elbow grease. The cleaning is followed up by ATP testing and visual checks that all areas of patient rooms have been cleaned. After that, sterilization using UV equipment.

The process takes staff about an hour and a half to complete, but has proven effective at minimizing the C.diff threat.

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