#C.DIFFICILE SPORE PORTABLE#

In many countries the incidence of CDAD seems to be increasing and a toxin-hyperproducing strain (ribotype 027) is becoming more common, despite the fact that many hospitals have made stringent efforts to control the infection through isolation of infected patients, improved compliance with handwashing and decontamination of the ward environment. difficile control measures may be inadequate and suggest that improved ward ventilation may help to reduce the spread of CDAD in healthcare facilities.Ĭlostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) is a frequently occurring nosocomial infection, which is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality amongst elderly patients in healthcare facilities. Although preliminary, the findings reinforce concerns that current C. difficile, a finding which may help to explain why CDAD is so persistent within hospitals and difficult to eradicate. This pilot study produced clear evidence of sporadic aerial dissemination of spores of a clone of C. difficile was not cultured from the air or surfaces of either hospital bay during the two days in March 2007. Of the 23 isolates, 22 were ribotype 001 and were indistinguishable on REP-PCR typing. One representative isolate from each of these was characterized further. difficile was cultured from the air with 23 samples yielding the bacterium (mean counts 53 – 426 cfu/m 3 of air). Ribotyping and REP-PCR fingerprinting were used to further characterise isolates. After incubation, the identity of isolates was confirmed by standard techniques. Particulate material from the air was collected in Ringer's solution, alcohol shocked and plated out in triplicate onto Brazier's CCEY agar without egg yolk, but supplemented with 5 mg/L of lysozyme. Sampling took place in a six bedded elderly care bay (Study) during February 2006 and in March 2007 both the study bay and a four bedded orthopaedic bay (Control).

#C.DIFFICILE SPORE PORTABLE#

In a survey undertaken during February (two days) 2006 and March (two days) 2007, air samples were collected using a portable cyclone sampler and surface samples collected using contact plates in a UK hospital. In an attempt to clarify this issue we undertook a short controlled pilot study in an elderly care ward with the aim of culturing C. However previous studies have failed to isolate C. Environmental contamination is known to play an important contributory role in the spread of CDAD and it is suspected that contamination might be occurring as a result of aerial dissemination of C. Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) is a frequently occurring healthcare-associated infection, which is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality amongst elderly patients in healthcare facilities.

C.difficile spore