Isolation of environmental Clostridium difficile from a veterinary teaching hospital

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 diffici le 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 geogra phic association was found with areas in the large animal clinic where noso comial C. difficile diarrhea in horses had previously been diagnosed. Sever al other sites with a potential for nosocomial transmission of the organism were identified. Areas from which C. difficile was isolated tended to be a reas with high animal traffic, with increased chance of fecal contamination , and with rough, difficult to clean surfaces. This study documents the pre valence of this organism in the environment and its potential role in nosoc omial disease.