To the Editor: Slimings and colleagues suggest that strain typing of Clostridium difficile would give greater insight into the epidemiology of this infection in Australia,1 as it has in the United Kingdom,2 demonstrating less inhospital transmission than suspected in the past. We believe this to be the case.
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- 1. Slimings C, Armstrong P, Beckingham WD, et al. Increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile infection, Australia, 2011–2012. Med J Aust 2014; 200: 272-276. <MJA full text>
- 2. Eyre DW, Cule ML, Wilson DJ, et al. Diverse sources of C. difficile infection identified on whole-genome sequencing. N Engl J Med 2013; 369: 1195-1205.
- 3. Engelhardt NEP, Hong HE, Foster NF, et al. A two year study of symptomatic Clostridium difficile infection (CDI): rapid diagnosis and early isolation prevents case to case transmission [poster presentation]. Proceedings of Antimicrobials 2014: 15th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society for Antimicrobials; 2014 Feb 20-22; Melbourne, Australia.
- 4. Best EL, Sandoe JAT, Wilcox MH. Potential for aerosolization of Clostridium difficile after flushing toilets: the role of toilet lids in reducing environmental contamination risk. J Hosp Infect 2012; 80: 1-5.
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