Emergent C. diff strain, RT244, associated with more severe disease: Study
Researchers from Monash University in Victoria, Australia have identified a new, more virulent strain of Clostridium difficile. The research was published this month in the journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Clostridium difficile
Image/CDC/Janice Carr
Fecal samples were collected from scores of suspected C. diff cases with 12 individuals harboring the new strain named RT244. Researchers performed whole genome sequencing to understand the relationship of the RT244 strain to other C. difficile strains and further understand its virulence potential.
What they found was the C. difficile RT244 strain was associated with more severe disease and a higher mortality rate, likely because of a novel toxin B variant it produced. Specifically, the patients infected with RT244 were 13 times more likely to die than those infected with other strains, with almost half dying within a month of diagnosis.
Other pathological issues included the strain was more likely to cause renal impairment and hypoalbuminaemia in patients. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page.
The Monash team concluded that their findings demonstrate the pathogenic potential of this RT244 C. difficile strain and emphasize the importance of ongoing surveillance for emergent strains.
