Molecular Analysis of Relapses or Reinfections of Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea

Recurrence is a major complication of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea and occurs in 15 to 20% of patients after discontinuation of therapy. Strains from 53 patients with Clostridium difficile recurrences were fingerprinted by PCR ribotyping. Reinfection with a different strain occurred in 15 of 53 patients (28,3 %), while 38 patients relapsed. These data suggest the need to perform molecular typing for implementation of infection control procedures and for a more appropriate therapeutic strategy.