Does Strain Type Predict Severity in C. difficile Infection?

In a database with information on more than 2700 samples, Clostridium difficile clade type determined by multilocus sequence typing was significantly associated with 14-day mortality.

The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection increased substantially with the emergence and spread in the early 2000s of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotype 027/NAP1/BI/sequence type 1 strains. However, few studies have investigated the association between C. difficile strains and outcomes.

To rectify this situation, researchers used a large population-based database and multilocus sequence typing records to correlate 14-day mortality and clinical severity biomarkers with genotypes of C. difficile isolates submitted from hospitals in Oxfordshire, U.K., between September 2006 and May 2011. During the study period, there were 2745 consecutive C. difficile toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA)–positive stools from 2222 adults and 27,550 conse…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)