New Nationwide Poll Shows Increase in C. Difficile Awareness Through Media Coverage, Highlights Need for Further Outreach Efforts
More than half of all respondents admitted they were not at all familiar with the infection
NEW YORK, NY (September 25, 2025) – The Peggy Lillis Foundation (PLF), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for C. diff education and advocacy, is releasing the results of its first nationwide survey to gauge public awareness of Clostridioides difficile infections. The poll was commissioned by PLF and conducted by YouGov, an international online research data and analytics technology group. 1,000 respondents from the United States participated.
The data shows a 6% increase in awareness of C. diff and the health issues it causes. A similar question was part of a survey conducted by Prodege in 2021, where 60% of respondents reported having no knowledge of C. diff. This year, 54% of respondents answered the same way.
Of those who reported having knowledge of the infection, 19% of participants mentioned they learned about C. diff through media coverage—including national health stories, public service campaigns, and patient advocacy initiatives. As the nationwide leader in C. diff education and advocacy, this underscores PLF’s impact on the media landscape in the seven years since it launched its ‘See C. diff’ public relations campaign.
“We’re encouraged by the steady growth in awareness we’re seeing,” said Christian John Lillis, Executive Director of the Peggy Lillis Foundation. “Every percentage point increase demonstrates the impact of our efforts to educate the American public about C. diff. Awareness is the first step to prevention, and these results show that our work and efforts are making a measurable difference.”
The survey also highlighted key gaps in public understanding. Despite increased familiarity, misconceptions about how C. diff spreads and who is at risk remain widespread. A majority of respondents who were aware of C. diff still associated it exclusively with hospital settings, when in reality, recent data from the CDC indicate that nearly half of C. diff infections originate in community settings, such as outpatient clinics and even households.
In response to these findings, the Peggy Lillis Foundation is using this data to shape new public awareness initiatives and strengthen its policy advocacy on behalf of patients and families impacted by infectious diseases. By identifying where misconceptions persist, PLF can better equip communities with accurate and accessible information, and push for stronger infection prevention policies and healthcare accountability nationwide.
“We view this poll not just as a snapshot of current awareness, but as a roadmap for where we need to focus our efforts next,” added Lillis. “From community education to legislative advocacy, these numbers will help us target the populations where increased knowledge can have the greatest impact.”