Designates November of each year as "C. Difficile Awareness Month."

SJR133

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 133

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates November of each year as "C.
Difficile Awareness Month."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating November of each
year as �C. Difficile Awareness Month.�

Whereas,

�Clostridioides Difficile, also known as C. Difficile, is a bacterium that
causes inflammation of the colon; and

Whereas,

�The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 500,000
patients nationwide are diagnosed with an C. Difficile infection and require
treatment each year; and

Whereas,

�Each year nearly 29,000 individuals affected by C. Difficile die within 30
days of initial diagnosis, with roughly 15,000 of those deaths directly attributed
to C. Difficile infection; and

Whereas,

�Studies indicate that C. Difficile has become the most common microbial cause
of healthcare-associated infection in U.S. hospitals and has exacted up to $4.8
billion each year in excess health care costs for acute care facilities alone;
and

Whereas,

�One out of every five patients with a healthcare-associated C. Difficile
infection experiences a recurrence of the infection, and one out of every nine
patients aged 65 or older with a healthcare-associated C. Difficile infection
died within 30 days of diagnosis; and

Whereas,

�Improved health practices, such as thorough hand hygiene, and environmental
cleaning, can significantly reduce the risk and spread of C. Difficile
infection; and

Whereas,
�
Ensuring the education of healthcare workers on proper infection prevention
techniques is proven to reduce all types of healthcare-associated infections;
and

Whereas,

�Healthcare facilities employ dedicated professionals who advocate for
improving health and promoting patient safety in order to minimize and prevent
C. Difficile infections; and

Whereas,

�It is fitting and proper that all citizens and healthcare workers in the State
of New Jersey be better informed about C. Difficile infections and the
different ways the bacterium can be spread; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� November of each year is
designated as �C. Difficile Awareness Month� in the State of New Jersey, and
the citizens are urged to observe the month with appropriate activities and
programs.

���� 2.� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public
officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate
activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates November of each year as �C. Difficile Awareness Month� in New
Jersey to increase awareness of this harmful bacterial infection.

���� The joint resolution
respectfully requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing
November as �C. Difficile Awareness Month� in New Jersey and calls upon public
officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate
activities and programs.