Journal article
High Prevalence of Clostridium difficile in Home Gardens in Western Australia
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol.87(1), pp.1-9
2020
Abstract
In recent years, community-associated Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) has emerged as a significant health problem, accounting for ∼50% of all CDI cases. We hypothesized that the home garden environment could contribute to the dissemination of C. difficile spores in the community and investigated 23 homes in 22 suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. We identified a high prevalence of toxigenic C. difficile in this environment. In total, 97 samples consisting of soil (n = 48), compost (n = 15), manure (n = 12), and shoe sole swabs (n = 22) were collected. All samples were cultured anaerobically on C. difficile ChromID agar and enriched in brain heart infusion broth, and isolates were characterized by toxin gene PCR and PCR ribotyping. Two-thirds (67%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 57 to 76%) of home garden samples, including 79% (95% CI, 68 to 91%) of soil, 67% (95% CI, 43 to 90%) of compost, 83% (95% CI, 62% to 100%) of manure, and 32% (95% CI, 12 to 51%) of shoe sole samples, contained C. difficile. Of 87 isolates, 38% (95% CI, 28 to 48%) were toxigenic, and 26 PCR ribotypes (RTs), 5 of which were novel, were identified. The toxigenic C. difficile strain RT014/020 was the most prevalent RT. Interestingly, 19 esculin hydrolysis-negative strains giving white colonies were identified on C. difficile ChromID agar, 5 of which were novel toxigenic RTs that produced only toxin A. Clearly, there is the potential for transmission of C. difficile in the community due to the contamination of home gardens. Our findings highlight the importance of a “One Health” approach to dealing with CDI.
Details
- Title
- High Prevalence of Clostridium difficile in Home Gardens in Western Australia
- Authors/Creators
- N. Shivaperumal (Author/Creator)B.J. Chang (Author/Creator)T.V. Riley (Author/Creator)C.A. Elkins (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol.87(1), pp.1-9
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- Identifiers
- 991005543901507891
- Copyright
- © 2021 American Society for Microbiology
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.120 Inflammatory Bowel Diseases & Infections
- 1.120.1133 Clostridium Infections
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
- Microbiology
- ESI research areas
- Biology & Biochemistry