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Isolation of environmental Clostridium difficile from a veterinary teaching hospital.
Abstract: An environmental survey of a veterinary teaching hospital for the presence of Clostridium difficile was performed using contact plates and cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose with 0.1% sodium taurocholate agar. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 24 of 381 sites (6.3%). Growth was obtained from 4.5% (9/202) of sites sampled in the Large Animal Clinic, from 8.1% (13/160) of sites within the Small Animal Clinic, and from 20% (2/10) of sites sampled elsewhere. Fourteen of 21 strains tested produced toxins in vitro. A geographic association was found with areas in the large animal clinic where nosocomial C. difficile diarrhea in horses had previously been diagnosed. Several other sites with a potential for nosocomial transmission of the organism were identified. Areas from which C. difficile was isolated tended to be areas with high animal traffic, with increased chance of fecal contamination, and with rough, difficult to clean surfaces. This study documents the prevalence of this organism in the environment and its potential role in nosocomial disease.
Publication Date: 2000-10-06 PubMed ID: 11021433DOI: 10.1177/104063870001200510Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article delves into a study carried out in a veterinary teaching hospital, which found that the bacterium Clostridium difficile was present in several locations, suggesting a link between environmental contamination and the infection in animals. The study highlights the significance of proper hygiene and cleaning measures, especially in high-traffic areas and those with rough surfaces.
Study Methodology
- The study entailed an environmental survey conducted at a veterinary teaching hospital.
- Researchers utilized contact plates and cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose with 0.1% sodium taurocholate agar to extract and isolate the Clostridium difficile bacterium.
- The isolation of the bacterium was attempted from different sites within the hospital including the Large Animal Clinic, the Small Animal Clinic, and other viable locations.
Results of the Survey
- The bacterium was successfully isolated from 24 out of 381 sites, accounting for a 6.3% occurrence.
- from the large animal clinic, 4.5% of the sampled sites were found to have the bacterium while 8.1% of sampled sites from the small animal clinic tested positive for Clostridium difficile.
- A higher percentage of 20% isolation was noted from the remaining 10 sites sampled elsewhere within the hospital.
Inference from the Study
- From 21 strains tested, fourteen produced toxins in vitro, providing evidence of their potential harm.
- Interestingly, a geographical pattern emerged showing association with certain areas in the large animal clinic. These were areas where C. difficile diarrhea had been previously diagnosed in horses, suggesting a nosocomial transmission of the disease.
- The study also identified several other sites that pose a potential risk for nosocomial transmission.
- Areas from which the bacterium was frequently isolated tended to be ones with high animal traffic, indicating a higher likelihood of fecal contamination.
- These areas also possessed rough, hard-to-clean surfaces which made them susceptible to becoming a hospitable environment for Clostridium difficile.
- The study concludes by emphasizing the prevalence of this bacterium in the environment and its potential role in hospital-acquired infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Weese JS, Staempfli HR, Prescott JF.
(2000).
Isolation of environmental Clostridium difficile from a veterinary teaching hospital.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 12(5), 449-452.
https://doi.org/10.1177/104063870001200510 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cats
- Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
- Colony Count, Microbial
- Cross Infection / microbiology
- Cross Infection / veterinary
- Dogs
- Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / transmission
- Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal
- Infection Control
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Hain-Saunders NMR, Knight DR, Bruce M, Riley TV. Clostridioides difficile infection and One Health: an equine perspective. Environ Microbiol 2022 Mar;24(3):985-997.
- Wojtacka J, Wysok B, Kocuvan A, Rupnik M. High contamination rates of shoes of veterinarians, veterinary support staff and veterinary students with Clostridioides difficile spores. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022 Mar;69(2):685-693.
- Kochan TJ, Foley MH, Shoshiev MS, Somers MJ, Carlson PE, Hanna PC. Updates to Clostridium difficile Spore Germination. J Bacteriol 2018 Aug 15;200(16).
- Leon IM, Lawhon SD, Norman KN, Threadgill DS, Ohta N, Vinasco J, Scott HM. Serotype Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance among Salmonella enterica Isolates from Patients at an Equine Referral Hospital. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018 Jul 1;84(13).
- Darkoh C, Deaton M, DuPont HL. Nonantimicrobial drug targets for Clostridium difficile infections. Future Microbiol 2017 Sep;12(11):975-985.
- Rineh A, Kelso MJ, Vatansever F, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Clostridium difficile infection: molecular pathogenesis and novel therapeutics. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014 Jan;12(1):131-50.
- Sorg JA, Sonenshein AL. Inhibiting the initiation of Clostridium difficile spore germination using analogs of chenodeoxycholic acid, a bile acid. J Bacteriol 2010 Oct;192(19):4983-90.
- Sorg JA, Sonenshein AL. Bile salts and glycine as cogerminants for Clostridium difficile spores. J Bacteriol 2008 Apr;190(7):2505-12.
- Weese JS, Armstrong J. Outbreak of Clostridium difficile-associated disease in a small animal veterinary teaching hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2003 Nov-Dec;17(6):813-6.
- Weese JS, Peregrine AS, Armstrong J. Occupational health and safety in small animal veterinary practice: Part I--nonparasitic zoonotic diseases. Can Vet J 2002 Aug;43(8):631-6.
- Borges AS, Zakia LS, Yu S, Surette MG, Arroyo LG. Isolation of Clostridioides difficile from a Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital Environment. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 15;15(18).
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