biostudies-literatureUnknown10(3)Baker SJC<h4>Background</h4><i>Clostridioides difficile</i> is a bacillus that can colonize the intestinal tract. <i>C. difficile</i> infection (CDI) is a common, health care-associated disease often coinciding with antibiotic use, with presentation ranging from diarrhea to toxic megacolon and death. However, individuals can carry the pathogen without exhibiting symptoms of disease. <i>C. difficile</i> carriers may serve as an important reservoir for in-hospital transmission of <i>C. difficile.</i> The objective of this study was to assess the role asymptomatic <i>C. difficile</i> carriers may play in pathogen transmission.<h4>Methods</h4>In this retrospective cohort study, rectal swabs collected to test for antimicrobial-resistant organisms either upon admission or during the hospital stay were usJournal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada = Journal officiel de l'Association pour la microbiologie medicale et l'infectiologie Canada228-238https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12657012biostudies-literatureInvestigating in-hospital transmission of &lt;i&gt;Clostridioides difficile&lt;/i&gt; from asymptomatic patients.PMC12657012Usuanlele MTMertz DBulir DBaker SJCLoeb MMaciejewski JMcArthur AGSmieja MSurette MGGilchrist JSharma DRfalseInvestigating in-hospital transmission of &lt;i&gt;Clostridioides difficile&lt;/i&gt; from asymptomatic patients.<h4>Background</h4><i>Clostridioides difficile</i> is a bacillus that can colonize the intestinal tract. <i>C. difficile</i> infection (CDI) is a common, health care-associated disease often coinciding with antibiotic use, with presentation ranging from diarrhea to toxic megacolon and death. However, individuals can carry the pathogen without exhibiting symptoms of disease. <i>C. difficile</i> carriers may serve as an important reservoir for in-hospital transmission of <i>C. difficile.</i> The objective of this study was to assess the role asymptomatic <i>C. difficile</i> carriers may play in pathogen transmission.<h4>Methods</h4>In this retrospective cohort study, rectal swabs collected to test for antimicrobial-resistant organisms either upon admission or during the hospital stay were us2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-05T17:52:31.083Z2026-05-19T03:11:04.179ZS-EPMC126570124131161710.3138/jammi-2024-0041