The Peggy Lillis Foundation

10/16/2026

Diagnostic stewardship matters, but is it enough? Dr. Jonathan Foster of Jefferson Healthcare asks a bold question at our 3rd Annual Scientific Symposium: “Can We Prevent C. difficile Before the Test Is Ordered?” Come to the C. diff Scientific Symposium ready to think differently about prevention.

Our 3rd Annual Scientific Symposium takes place on November 19 and 20. This fully virtual event brings together clinicians, researchers, survivors, and advocates from around the world as we work toward a world where C. diff is rare, treatable, and survivable.

Register now: https://hubs.li/Q04BdF5r0

10/15/2026

Antibiotic stewardship is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent C. diff, and it is gaining attention in Congress.

CIDRAP News reports that Rep. J. Luis Correa has urged medical and dental associations to educate their members about the risks of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, with a focus on clindamycin, an antibiotic known for its link to C. diff. The letter follows a CIDRAP investigation that featured the story of Dolores Hernandez Owens, who died from a bowel infection after a dentist prescribed her clindamycin. Her family says no one warned them about the risk of C. diff or the symptoms to watch for.

Research cited in the article suggests that 80% of preventive dental antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. Education for clinicians and patients alike is how we change that.

Read the full article:

A California congressman cited a CIDRAP News investigation in a letter to dental and medical associations in which he urges them to educate their members about the risks of inappropriate antibiotics.

10/13/2026

C. diff does not live only in hospitals. Thomas Riley, MAppEpid, PhD, FASM, of the University of Western Australia, will explore the evolution of C. diff, its environment, and the One Health perspective at our 3rd Annual Scientific Symposium on November 19 and 20.

This fully virtual event brings together clinicians, researchers, survivors, and advocates from around the world as we work toward a world where C. diff is rare, treatable, and survivable.

Register now: https://hubs.li/Q04B4Vc80

10/02/2026

Early recognition of C. diff can change the course of an infection.

Common C. diff symptoms include:
- Frequent, watery diarrhea
- Belly pain or cramping
- Fever
- Nausea and loss of appetite

Patients experiencing these symptoms, particularly after antibiotics or a healthcare stay, should contact their provider promptly and ask about C. diff testing. Timely diagnosis supports faster treatment and reduces spread.

Patient and caregiver resources are available at http://cdiff.org

09/30/2026

Anyone can get C. diff, but some people are at higher risk. You may be at greater risk if you:

💊 Have recently taken antibiotics
🚑 Have been hospitalized or live in a long-term care facility
📆 Are 65 or older
😰 Have a weakened immune system
💩 Have had C. diff before

Knowing your risk helps you speak up, ask questions, and get care sooner. Learn more at http://cdiff.org

09/29/2026

Antibiotics save lives. But they also disrupt the gut microbiome that normally protects against C. diff. When that protective balance is lost, C. diff can overgrow and cause a serious, sometimes life-threatening infection.

Appropriate antibiotic use is one of the most effective ways to reduce C. diff risk. Patients can help by asking their care team whether an antibiotic is necessary, which one is best, and for how long. Clinicians and health systems play a critical role through antibiotic stewardship.

Protect your gut and don't hesitate to ask the questions. Learn more at https://hubs.li/Q04ywZKC0

09/24/2026

💜 Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, or supported our 17th Annual Changing the Odds Gala!

This year's gala was a HUGE success, our most successful gala in PLF history. With your help, we raised over $125,000 toward our mission of ending the harm caused by C. diff.

Every gift, every ticket, and every casino game brought us closer to our goal. We couldn't do this without our incredible community, thank you for Changing the Odds with us. 💜

09/23/2026

Our 2026 PLF Scientific Symposium is bringing together the brightest minds in C. diff research this November, and we want your work on the agenda. We're accepting abstracts now across five tracks: Epidemiology, Diagnostics and Infection Control, Treatment and Therapeutics, Emerging Therapeutics, and Research Frontiers and Policy. Selected abstracts earn a spot as a lightning talk presenter or virtual poster display. Submissions close October 23. Don't wait.

Submit your abstract:
https://forms.clickup.com/9014023315/f/8cme54k-5594/C961JREGTFHXLK6CKJ

09/16/2026

Here's something many people don't realize: alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not kill C. diff.

C. diff spreads through hardy spores that survive on hands and surfaces, and a quick sq**rt of sanitizer can't destroy them. The best defense is washing with soap and water, especially in healthcare settings or when caring for someone who is sick.

Scrub up. It's simple, and it works. Learn more at https://hubs.li/Q04xC_c30

09/09/2026

When Sarah caught cyclosporiasis during a foodborne outbreak in Michigan in June 2026, it set off a cascade no one expected. Her tests came back positive not just for the parasite, but for two strains of E. coli, sapovirus, and C. diff. Because the antibiotic for the parasite would have made the C. diff worse, doctors had to treat the C. diff first and hope her body could hold the line against everything else.

She failed her first course of vancomycin, and a second was added on top of it. She was hospitalized twice for dehydration, unable to eat, waking at 4am to hours of relentless GI symptoms. A first-time mother nursing her 10-month-old son, she watched her milk supply disappear as her body ran out of fuel. The toll on her mental health followed close behind.
"I felt like my body completely failed me."

Sarah had never heard of C. diff before it upended her life, and her story is a reminder that it isn't only a risk for the elderly or those on long courses of antibiotics. Have you ever assumed an infection like this couldn't happen to you or someone you love?

Read Sarah's full story and many others just like hers at https://hubs.li/Q04wVqCB0