[Demonstration of Clostridium difficile and toxin B in patients at a university clinic]

107 stool specimens from not hospitalized individuals and 69 stool specimens from 61 hospitalized patients (Internal Medicine) were examined for C. difficile and toxin B. Included were 42 specimens of 33 female patients of the department of maxillo-facial surgery, receiving prophylactic clindamycin and 7 samples from the ward staff. From the samples of the first group, C. difficile was isolated in one case (0.93%), whereas 8 out of 61 internal patients (13%) were positive for C. difficile by culture and/or toxin test. In 12 out of 33 surgical patients (36%), C. difficile and/or toxin could be detected in the stool. Examination of the ward staff was negative. Environmental samplings on the ward, comprehending 246 contact cultures, resulted in the isolation of C. difficile from 25 plates (10.1%). The majority of the patients showed no symptoms or slight diarrhea. Only 5 patients required vancomycin therapy. Frequency and clinical significance of C. difficile isolation is discussed under these aspects.