A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection. Which precaution should the nurse implement immediately?

Immediately place the patient on Contact Precautions in a private room, or cohort with another confirmed C. diff patient. Don gloves and a fluid-resistant gown upon room entry. Remove and discard PPE inside the room, then perform immediate hand hygiene.

Hand Hygiene: Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 40-60 seconds. Do not use alcohol-based hand rubs after caring for a C. diff patient, as alcohol does not inactivate spores.

Environmental Cleaning: Use a sporicidal disinfectant (e.g., diluted sodium hypochlorite/bleach solution) for daily and terminal cleaning of all high-touch surfaces and equipment. Dedicate non-critical patient-care items (stethoscope, thermometer) to the single patient.

Duration: Maintain Contact Precautions until diarrhea has resolved and the patient is formed stool, typically continuing for at least 48 hours after symptom resolution, per facility policy.