Outbreak of Clostridium difficile-associated disease in a small animal veterinary teaching hospital.
An apparent outbreak of enteric disease occurred in dogs and cats at a veterinary teaching hospital. Clostridium difficile Toxin A or B or both were identified in 1 or more fecal samples from 48 of 93 (52%) dogs over a 5-month period, 30 of which were identified in the 1st 26 days, after which strict infection control measures, including closure to elective cases, were implemented. Affected animals included in-patients, out-patients that were housed temporarily in the wards, and resident blood donor dogs. Infection control measures, including partial depopulation, isolation, hospital and yard cleaning, and barrier precautions, were instituted, after which, the incidence of nosocomial diarrhea decreased from 19 cases per 1,000 admissions to 2.5 cases per 1,000 admissions (P < 0.001).
Weese
J S
JS
Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada. jsweese@uoguelph.ca
Armstrong
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile; D008795:Metronidazole