Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
11:13
Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
Published on: September 14, 2013
39.2K
Asymptomatic Clostridium difficile colonisation and onward transmission.
David W Eyre1, David Griffiths, Alison Vaughan
1National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|November 23, 2013
Summary
Asymptomatic Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) carriage is common in hospitals and may contribute to unexplained cases. Identifying risk factors like frequent stool and hospital stays can help pinpoint potential carriers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant healthcare-associated infection.
- Current understanding suggests a minority of CDI cases are acquired directly from symptomatic patients.
- Asymptomatic carriers represent a potential, under-recognized source of unexplained CDI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic Clostridium difficile carriage in medical inpatients.
- To identify risk factors associated with asymptomatic C. difficile carriage.
- To assess the potential for onward transmission from asymptomatic carriers to hospital-acquired CDI cases.
Main Methods:
- Prospective screening of medical inpatients for C. difficile carriage using stool culture.
- Logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for asymptomatic carriage.
- Whole genome sequencing and epidemiological data to compare carriage isolates with CDI cases and assess transmission.
Main Results:
- 11% of screened inpatients were asymptomatically colonized with C. difficile.
- Risk factors for carriage included patient-reported loose/frequent stool, recent overnight hospital stay, and immunosuppressant medication.
- Antibiotic exposure was surprisingly associated with a decreased risk of carriage.
- 72% of carriers harbored toxigenic strains common in CDI cases, but direct onward transmission was not clearly demonstrated in this study.
Conclusions:
- Asymptomatic C. difficile carriage is prevalent and may contribute to unexplained CDI, though transmission from individual carriers appears infrequent.
- Identified risk factors can aid in recognizing patients who may be asymptomatic carriers.
- Larger studies are needed to quantify the contribution of asymptomatic carriage to the overall CDI burden.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Colonisation of Pathogens
80
Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
80
01:20Infection
11.7K
When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
11.7K
01:30Reservoir of Infection
103
Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
103
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
5.1K
Transmission-based precautions are for patients known to be infected or suspected to be infected or colonized with organisms that pose a significant risk to others. Some transmission-based precautions include contact, enteric, and droplet.
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
5.1K
01:26Stages of Infection
70.3K
Stages of infection describe what happens to a susceptible host once a pathogen invades the human body. The stages of infection are incubation, prodromal, illness, stage of decline, and convalescence. The incubation stage is the period from exposure to a pathogen until symptoms start. The infected person is unaware of impending illness as the pathogens grow and multiply within the body. The duration may vary depending on the type of infection. The incubation period of measles averages ten to...
70.3K
01:26Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
87
The pathophysiology of gastritis begins with the colonization of the stomach lining by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This bacterium spreads mainly via the oral-oral route through saliva or shared utensils, and can also be transmitted in overcrowded or unhygienic environments through contaminated water, despite its brief survival outside the body.ColonizationOnce ingested, H. pylori enters the stomach and begins colonization by navigating through the mucus layer lining the stomach wall. It...
87