Journal
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
Volume 48, Issue 2, Pages 86-92Publisher
W B SAUNDERS CO LTD
DOI: 10.1053/jhin.2001.0943
Keywords
Clostridium difficile; HIV; recurrences; RAPD; typing
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Recurrence is a major complication of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea, especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients, and it is important to distinguish between relapse and re-infection in recurrent episodes. The aim of our study was to analyse C. difficile isolates obtained from HIV-positive patients with recurrent diarrhoea in order to distinguish between relapse and re-infection. This analysis was based on the study of DNA similarities among isolates obtained from different episodes within each patient. Relapses occurred in 64% of patients, 32% suffered re-infections and a combination of relapse plus re-infection was seen in 4%. DNA typing methods can be useful tools to characterize recurrent episodes of C. difficile associated disease. (C) 2001 The Hospital infection Society.
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