Clostridium difficile Infection: Beware the BI Strain

Initial infection with the BI strain predisposed patients to relapse.

Many patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) experience recurrence, either by the originally infecting strain (relapse) or by another strain (reinfection). Researchers at a Pittsburgh medical center studied the risk factors for CDI recurrence, including those related to a patient's initially infecting strain. Using a highly discriminatory C. difficile genotyping method, they focused especially on restriction endonuclease group BI, North American field type 1, polymerase chain reaction ribotype 027 (BI/NAP1/027) — often simply called the BI strain.

Of 82 patients who met criteria for recurrent CDI, 51 had relapsing infection with the same strain, and 31 had reinfection with a different strain. The factors significantly associated …

Reviewing Author

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)