BACKGROUND Since 2005, an increase in the prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) due to polymerase chain reaction ribotype 078 has been noticed in The Netherlands. This strain has also been identified as the predominant strain in pigs and calves. METHODS CDI caused by type 078 was studied in relation to CDI caused by the hypervirulent type 027 and by types other than 027 and 078....

The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is constantly changing and is influenced by antibiotic usage patterns, healthcare patient environment, and emergence of new strains. Between 1982 and 1991, 4 outbreak periods were noted in 1 hospital in Minnesota, each marked by clusters of specific strains, designated by restriction endonuclease typing (REA) as groups B and K (both type...

BACKGROUND Marked increases in Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) incidence, driven by epidemic strain spread, is a global phenomenon. METHODS The Clostridium difficile Ribotyping Network (CDRN) was established in 2007 as part of enhanced CDI surveillance in England, to facilitate the recognition and control of epidemic strains. We report on changes in CDI epidemiology in England in the fi...

BACKGROUND Clostridium difficile infection ranges from mild to severe prolonged diarrhea with systemic symptoms. Previous studies have assessed the correlation of some disease severity parameters to C. difficile ribotypes. However, certain clinical parameters of interest have not yet been evaluated. AIM We conducted an exploratory study to evaluate the correlation of C. difficile ribotypes to...

The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is constantly changing and is influenced by antibiotic usage patterns, healthcare patient environment, and emergence of new strains. Between 1982 and 1991, 4 outbreak periods were noted in 1 hospital in Minnesota, each marked by clusters of specific strains, designated by restriction endonuclease typing (REA) as groups B and K (both type...

Many residents and fellows enter specialty training programs with vague notions as to what the clinical practice of their specialty will be like. Such speculation on the author’s part seems reasonable because the house staff is usually exposed to the specialty only in the hospital environment, and not in the private practitioner’s office. As well, there is little written information about the c...