title: Persistence of an endemic (toxigenic) isolate of Clostridium difficile in the environment of a general medicine ward.
abstract: The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in an endemic setting was investigated by use of DNA typing methods to determine the strain identity of C. difficile isolates. Two predominant toxigenic clones were found in the environment and accounted for 29.8% (type 1) and 15.5% (type 2) of CDAD cases, respectively. In endemic settings, the environment and cross-transmission may play a role in acquisition of CDAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious and Immunologic Diseases, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. stcohen@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005194:Family Practice; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans