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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
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Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Fluoroquinolone resistance and Clostridium difficile, Germany
Nils Henning Zaiss1, Wolfgang Witte, Ulrich Nübel
1Robert Koch Institute, Burgstrasse 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany. zaissh@rki.de
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|March 31, 2010
Summary
Clostridium difficile infections in Germany showed common fluoroquinolone resistance in 2008. However, resistance to metronidazole and vancomycin was not detected in these common bacterial strains.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
- Understanding the genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Clostridium difficile is crucial for effective treatment and control.
- Surveillance of Clostridium difficile strains is important for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize Clostridium difficile isolates from German hospitals in 2008.
- To determine the prevalence of specific ribotypes, including the hypervirulent ribotype 027.
- To assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, particularly fluoroquinolone, metronidazole, and vancomycin resistance.
Main Methods:
- Collection of 670 Clostridium difficile isolates from 84 German hospitals in 2008.
- Utilized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) ribotyping for strain characterization.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for key antibiotics.
Main Results:
- PCR ribotyping revealed a high prevalence of ribotype 001.
- Dissemination of the concerning ribotype 027 strains was limited.
- Fluoroquinolone resistance was frequently observed across various ribotypes, often associated with gyrase mutations.
- No resistance to metronidazole or vancomycin was detected in any of the isolates.
Conclusions:
- Ribotype 001 was the dominant Clostridium difficile strain in Germany in 2008.
- The spread of ribotype 027 was restricted during the study period.
- Fluoroquinolone resistance is a significant concern in Clostridium difficile infections, necessitating careful antibiotic selection.
- Metronidazole and vancomycin remain effective treatment options against Clostridium difficile in Germany, based on 2008 data.
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