Molecular epidemiology and clinical differentiation between Clostridioides difficile infection and colonization across three chicago medical centers

Andrew M Skinner; Youngchang Kim; Adam Cheknis; Michael Lin; Mary K. Hayden; Nicholas M. Moore; Amanda Harrington; Vera Tešić; Kathleen G. Beavis; Dale N. Gerding; Larry K. Kociolek; Charlesnika Evans; Stuart Johnson

doi:10.1017/ash.2026.10306

January 1, 2026Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare EpidemiologyOpen Access

Molecular epidemiology and clinical differentiation between Clostridioides difficile infection and colonization across three chicago medical centers

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key Points

The research aims to distinguish between C. difficile infection and colonization using molecular epidemiology across multiple centers.
Retrospective cohort study design
Conducted at three Chicago academic medical centers
Assessment of clinical adjudication of C. difficile test results
Analysis of antibiotic usage and its association with infection
Utilization of restriction endonuclease analysis for strain differentiation
27.2% of patients with positive tests were colonized rather than infected
Recent antibiotic usage significantly predicted infection risk with an adjusted odds ratio of 4.38
Strain analysis showed group Y (29.3%) was more prevalent than BI (9.3%) in study period

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

Retrospective cohort study differentiates C. difficile infection from colonization, indicating antibiotic use impacts diagnosis.

Abstract

In a retrospective cohort study at three Chicago academic medical centers, 22/81 (27.2%) patients with a clinically adjudicated positive C. difficile test result were colonized. Recent antibiotic usage predicted true infection (adjusted odds ratio: 4.38 for infection). Restriction endonuclease analysis(REA) group Y (29.3%) replaced BI (9.3%) as the dominant strain.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Skinner et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69c6210b15a0a509bde198bc https://doi.org/10.1017/ash.2026.10306

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Molecular epidemiology and clinical differentiation between Clostridioides difficile infection and colonization across three chicago medical centers

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Molecular epidemiology and clinical differentiation between Clostridioides difficile infection and colonization across three chicago medical centers

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading