Community-associated Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) appears to be an increasing problem. Reported carriage rates by C. difficile are debatable with suggestions that primary asymptomatic carriage is associated with decreased risk of subsequent diarrhoea. However, knowledge of potential reservoirs and intestinal carriage rates in the community, particularly in the elderly, the most susceptible group, is limited. We have determined the presence of C. difficile in the faeces of a healthy elderly cohort living outside of long-term care facilities (LCFs) in the United Kingdom.Faecal samples from 149 community-based healthy elderly volunteers (median age 81 years) were screened for C. difficile using direct (Brazier's CCEY) and enrichment (Cooked Meat broth) culture methods and a glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) immunoassay. Isolates were PCR-ribotyped and analysed for toxin production and the presence of toxin genes.Of 149 faecal samples submitted, six (4

作者：Fabio, Miyajima；Paul, Roberts；Andrew, Swale；Valerie, Price；Maureen, Jones；Michael, Horan；Nicholas, Beeching；Jonathan, Brazier；Christopher, Parry；Neil, Pendleton；Munir, Pirmohamed

来源：PloS one 2011 年 6卷 8期