[Epidemiology of severe Clostridium difficile infections in Hesse, Germany in 2008-2009].

Background And Objective: Clostridium difficile is a major cause of health care associated infections in industrialized countries. During the past decade, the incidence and clinical severity of C. difficile infections (CDI) have increased markedly.

[Emergence of clostridium difficile ribotype 027 in Germany: epidemiological and clinical characteristics].

Introduction: In September 2007 an increase of severe Clostridium difficile-associated infections (CDI) was noticed in a hospital in the city of Trier, Germany. It was assumed that a new, possibly hypervirulent strain (PCR ribotype 027) was related to these events. An outbreak investigation was initiated by the local health authorities and the Robert Koch Institute to describe the epidemiology of the possible outbreak and to identify and control the possible sources.

Comparison of resistance against erythromycin and moxifloxacin, presence of binary toxin gene and PCR ribotypes in Clostridium difficile isolates from 1990 and 2008.

Worldwide increasing rates of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) with severe courses and outbreaks have been reported. This change in CDI epidemiology has on one hand been related to the spread of specific PCR ribotypes (e.g.

Fluoroquinolone resistance and Clostridium difficile, Germany.

We characterized 670 Clostridium difficile isolates collected from patients in 84 hospitals in Germany in 2008. PCR ribotyping showed high prevalence of ribotype 001 and restricted dissemination of ribotype 027 strains. Fluoroquinolone resistance and associated gyrase mutations were frequent in various ribotypes, but no resistance to metronidazole or vancomycin was noted.

Clostridium difficile ribotypes 001, 017, and 027 are associated with lethal C. difficile infection in Hesse, Germany.

From January 2008 to April 2009, 72 cases of severe Clostridium difficile infection were reported from 18 different districts in the state of Hesse, Germany. A total of 41 C. difficile isolates from 41 patients were subjected to PCR ribotyping.