More hospitalized children are contracting Clostridium difficile infections, a sometimes deadly bacterial infection, during hospital visits. Infection rates have increased 15% per year in US hospitals since 1997, and children who acquire the infection are much more likely to die or require surgery to fight off the infection than adults.

Clostridium difficile is a nasty infection children are most susceptible to when they share hospital rooms with other sick children or if they stay in a hospital room that hasn't been cleaned properly between patients.

Over 7,000 children contracted a Clostridium difficile Infection from a hospital in 2006 alone. Most Clostridium difficile infections are preventable if hospitals take the proper precautions and sanitizing measures. 

In Washington, DC there is no law requiring hospitals to publicly report on hospital-acquired infections. This is unacceptable. Every hospital should be transparent about the risk of receiving care at their facility. These infections are preventable if hospitals take the time to be less negligent. Washington, DC should hold their hospitals accountable to save lives and not put childrens lives at risk.