Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis and multilocus sequence typing reveal genetic relationships among Clostridium difficile isolates genotyped by restriction endonuclease analysis.

Numbers of Clostridium difficile infections have increased worldwide in the past decade. While infection with C. difficile remains predominantly a health care-associated infection, there may also be an increased incidence of community-associated infections.

High frequency of rifampin resistance identified in an epidemic Clostridium difficile clone from a large teaching hospital.

Background: Rifampin is used as adjunctive therapy for Clostridium difficile-associated disease, and the drug's derivative, rifaximin, has emerged as an attractive antimicrobial for treatment of C. difficile-associated disease. Rifampin resistance in C.

Control of an outbreak of infection with the hypervirulent Clostridium difficile BI strain in a university hospital using a comprehensive "bundle" approach.

Background: In June 2000, the hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile (CD) infection rate in our hospital (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, PA) increased to 10.4 infections per 1000 hospital discharges (HDs); the annual rate increased from 2.7 infections per 1000 HDs to 7.

Deletion of fetA gene sequences in serogroup B and C Neisseria meningitidis isolates.

The immunogenic iron-regulated FetA outer membrane protein of Neisseria meningitidis is one of various outer membrane proteins that have been considered potential meningococcal vaccine candidates. In this report, we describe the characterization of three meningococcal isolates that have deleted fetA sequences through genetic recombination at repetitive elements.

tcdC genotypes associated with severe TcdC truncation in an epidemic clone and other strains of Clostridium difficile.

Severe Clostridium difficile associated disease is associated with outbreaks of the recently described BI/NAP1 epidemic clone. This clone is characterized by an 18-bp deletion in the tcdC gene and increased production of toxins A and B in vitro. TcdC is a putative negative regulator of toxin A&B production.

Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis for investigation of Clostridium difficile transmission in Hospitals.

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal illness. Recently, an increased incidence of hospital-acquired infections with severe outcomes has been reported in North America and Europe. Current molecular-typing methods for detection of outbreaks and nosocomial transmission are labor-intensive, subjective, or insufficiently discriminatory to differentiate between closely related strains.