Clostridioides difficile positivity rate and PCR ribotype distribution on retail potatoes in 12 European countries, January to June 2018.

ABSTRACT: BackgroundWhile human-to-human transmission of Clostridioides difficile occurs often, other infection sources, including food, animals and environment, are under investigation.AimWe present a large study on C. difficile in a food item in Europe, encompassing 12 European countries (Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Romania and the United Kingdom).MethodsPotato was selected because of availability, ease of sampling and high C. difficile positivity rates. Identical protocols for sampling and isolation were used, enabling a direct comparison of the C. difficile positivity rate.ResultsFrom C. difficile-positive potato samples (33/147; 22.4%), we obtained 504 isolates, grouped into 38 PCR ribotypes. Posit

SUBMITTER: Tkalec V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9012089 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature