How contagious is C. diff?

According to the C Difficile website, Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is considered extremely contagious. While the infection is most commonly transmitted through fecal contamination, it is able to live on surfaces for months and sometimes even becomes airborne.

Identified by abdominal pain and watery diarrhea, C. difficile infections range from mild to life-threatening, according to WebMD. Symptoms occur as a direct result of toxins released by the bacteria, which attack the lining of the intestines. Commonly found in patients who have recently undergone antibiotic treatment, C. difficile is prevalent in those who don't have enough good bacteria in their intestinal tracts to fight off the infection, says eMedicineHealth.