What is the most effective prevention for C. difficile spores?

• A. Alcohol-based hand rub
• B. Glove use/barrier protection
• C. Regular hand washing with warm water only
• D. No special precautions needed

Answer: (B)

C. difficile spores are highly resilient and can spread by contact with contaminated surfaces and hands. Wearing gloves and using barrier protection creates a physical shield during patient care, reducing the chance that spores are transferred to skin, clothing, or the environment. This barrier is especially important because alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not reliably kill spores, so relying on them alone isn’t sufficient. After removing gloves, thorough hand hygiene with soap and water is still necessary to remove any spores that may have contaminated hands. No special precautions would leave the spread of spores unchecked.