Airborne Spread of Clostridium difficile

C. difficile was isolated from the air near 7 of 10 patients with active disease.

Although Clostridium difficile is transmissible among hospitalized patients, the precise mechanism is unclear. We know that individuals with C. difficile infection (CDI) excrete large quantities of spores and that environmental surfaces and healthcare workers' hands are frequently contaminated. Might spores also be spread aerially?

To examine this possibility, researchers at a hospital in the U.K. sampled the air and environmental surfaces near patients with symptomatic CDI and used molecular typing to compare any organisms found with those in patient fecal samples.

One hour of air sampling yielded C. difficile for 6 of 50 patients with confirmed CDI (12%). Of the 10 patients who had sampling extended to 10 hours, 7 had C. difficile detected …

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)