Skip to main content

Q2. We have had one fatal case of C. difficile infection. Should we send it for typing?

Typing of single isolates rarely yields useful epidemiological information. We know from our findings thus far that fatal cases can occur with virtually any PCR ribotype of C. difficile, not just Type 027. As a precaution in case this death may be the index case to an outbreak or sudden increase in serious cases, it should be stored and sent for typing with any subsequent and possibly related isolates that may arise.