title: Distribution of Clostridium difficile strains from a North American, European and Australian trial of treatment for C. difficile infections: 2005-2007.
abstract: Clostridium difficile is a widely distributed pathogen with multiple strain types as determined by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) and by PCR ribotyping, two well-characterized typing systems. In this study, REA typing was performed on 894C. difficile isolates from patients enrolled from 16 countries on three continents in two large, recently conducted clinical treatment trials of C. difficile infection. REA group BI (Ribotype 027) isolates were the most common strains identified and were widely distributed throughout North America, but restricted to three of thirteen countries in Europe. REA group J (Ribotype 001) isolates were the most common strains identified in Europe and non-specific REA groups (historically less frequent) were the most common strains identified in Australia. REA groups BI, J, G and CF correlated with specific PCR ribotypes whereas more than one ribotype was found within REA groups Y, BK, and K. International surveillance of C. difficile strains is important to document the changing epidemiology of this enteric pathogen that continues to cause healthcare facility outbreaks and sporadic infections in other settings.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Hines VA Hospital, Hines, IL 60141-3030, USA.
authors.forename: Adam K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cheknis
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sambol
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Kristin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Nagaro
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: G Aida
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hidalgo-Arroyo
authors.forename: Jon S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brazier
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Dale N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Gerding
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000091402:Prohibitins; D021521:Ribotyping
chemical_list: C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes