Association Between Environmental Factors and Toxigenic Clostridioides difficile Carriage at Hospital Admission

Key Points

Question Is an individual’s location of residence associated with asymptomatic carriage of toxigenic Clostridiodes difficile?

Findings In this cohort study of 3043 adult participants admitted to the hospital, patients who lived closer to livestock farms had a higher likelihood of carrying toxigenic C difficile at the time of hospital admission.

Meaning Clostridioides difficile is acquired not only in hospitals but also in the community setting. Livestock farms may expose people to higher loads of C difficile via runoff water and to substances that disrupt the intestinal microbiome, placing them at higher risk of C difficile colonization.