Isolation and characterization of a new Clostridium difficile ribotype during a prospective study in a hospital in Italy

During an epidemiological study performed in Italy, a new Clostridium difficile ribotype was found and the profile inserted in the data bank. This strain was investigated for toxins production and antimicrobial susceptibility. It was highly resistant to fluorochinolones and did not harbor toxin binary gene. Our finding shows the capacity of Clostridium difficile to survive to the antibiotic selective pressure by genotypic changes. This could facilitate the increase of incidence of hospital infection. For this reason the infection control procedures, and more rational use of antibiotics, must always to be followed in order to avoid nosocomial outbreak.