Severe Clostridium difficile infection in New Zealand associated with an emerging strain, PCR-ribotype 244.

Aim: To compare disease severity and clinical outcome of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) due to PCR-ribotype (RT) 244 with CDI due to other strains present in Auckland.

Method: A retrospective, case-control study was conducted. Ten cases with CDI due to RT 244 were compared with 20 controls infected with other C.