Asymptomatic Clostridium difficile colonization is common in hospitalized patients. Existing C. difficile assay comparisons lack data on severity of diarrhea or patient outcomes, limiting the ability to interpret their results in regard to the diagnosis of C. difficile infection (CDI). The objective of this study was to measure how including patient presentation with the C. difficile assay resu...

BACKGROUND Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a frequent cause of nosocomial infections. During last few years, the mortality rate of C. difficile infection (CDI) increased in healthcare facilities. This organism has become a major public health concern in developed nations. Because of the increasing incidence of acquired-CDI (CA-CDI) and notable genetic overlap between C. difficile isolat...

The carrier rate of Clostridium difficile in an adult Swedish population was found to be 11 (1.9%) of 594. All isolates were toxigenic in vitro, but no healthy individual harbored free cytotoxin in stool. Of 398 patients with acute diarrhea not associated with antibiotic use, cytotoxin was found in stool filtrates of four (1%). In 4,793 patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea from all part...

After the first outbreak of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype (RT) 027 in Germany in 2007, no further outbreaks were reported until the recent re-emergence of RT 027 in Hesse, a federal state with 6 million inhabitants located in south-west Germany. We undertook a survey to determine the prevalence of RT 027 and other strains in a prospective study. From January 2011 to July 2013, we analysed ...

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The elderly are particularly susceptible and at increased risk for adverse outcome as a result of C. difficile infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of C. difficile colonization among residents of nursing homes in Hesse and to compare it with...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to develop and validate a multiplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous identification and toxigenic type characterization of Clostridium difficile. METHODS The multiplex real-time PCR assay targeted and simultaneously detected triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and binary toxin (cdtA) genes, and toxin A (tcdA) and B (tcdB) genes in the first and sec tubes,...

Clostridium difficile is an important enteric pathogen of humans and the cause of diarrhea and enteritis in neonatal pigs. Outside Australia, prevalence in piglets can be up to 73%, with a single PCR ribotype (RT), 078, predominating. We investigated the prevalence and genotype of C. difficile in Australian pig herds. Rectal swabs (n = 229) were collected from piglets aged <7 days from 21 farms...

Clostridium difficile is recognised worldwide as the main cause of infectious bacterial antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in hospitals and other healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to first survey C. difficile prevalence during the summer of 2014 at the Central University Hospital of Asturias (Spain). By typing the isolates obtained, it was then possible to compare the ribotype distrib...

It is known that the major etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis in man is Clostridium difficile. With respect to traditional use of almond paste in the treatment of infantile diarrhea, we studied the effects of the aqueous extract of Amygdalus communis (AEAC) on the growth and toxin production of Clostridium difficile in culture medium and the rabbit ligated ileal loop. Three groups...