title: Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile in infants.
abstract: The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile was studied prospectively in 451 newborn infants by daily screening of fecal samples. Colonization rates in three postnatal wards ranged from 2% to 52%. Many colonizations were sporadic, but on two wards there was evidence of clustering. On one of these occasions prospective environmental sampling yielded C. difficile organisms from a potential common source. Mothers were shown not to be the sources of their infants' organisms. Both toxin-producing and non-toxigenic strains were common; differentiation according to toxin type was epidemiologically useful. Cross contamination is the most likely explanation of the spread of C. difficile among hospitalized infants; the organism could spread among adults who are at risk of developing antibiotic-associated colitis in a similar manner.
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003013:Clostridium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D004391:Dust; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004391:Dust