Modelling diverse sources of Clostridium difficile in the community: importance of animals, infants and asymptomatic carriers

Abstract

Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) affect patients in hospitals and in the community, but the relative importance of transmission in each setting is unknown. We developed a mathematical model of C. difficile transmission in a hospital and surrounding community that included infants, adults, and transmission from animal reservoirs. We assessed the role of these transmission routes in maintaining disease and evaluated the recommended classification system for hospital and community-acquired CDIs. Show more