Clostridium difficile infection in returning travellers. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition of the contribution of community-acquired cases to the global burden of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The epidemiology of CDI among international travellers is poorly understood, and factors associated with international travel, such as antibiotic use and changes in gut microbiota, could potentially put travellers at higher risk. METHODS: We summarized demographic, travel-associated and geographic characteristics of travellers with CDI in the GeoSentinel database from 1997 to 2015. We also surveyed GeoSentinel sites to compare various testing indications, approaches, and diagnostic modalities. RESULTS: We identified 260 GeoSentinel records, including 187 that satisfied criteria for analysis (confirmed cases in non-immigrant travellers aged >2 years, seen <12 weeks post-travel). CDI was reported in all age groups and in travellers to all world regions; the largest proportions of cases having destinations in Asia (31%), Central/South America or the Caribbean (30%) and Africa (24%). Our site survey revealed substantial heterogeneity of testing approaches between sites; the most commonly used test was the C. difficile toxin gene PCR. CONCLUSIONS: CDI is encountered in returning international travellers, although there is considerable variability in testing practices. These data underscore the importance of awareness of C. difficile as a potential cause of travel-associated diarrhoea.

publication date

  • May 1, 2017

Research

keywords

  • Clostridioides difficile
  • Clostridium Infections
  • Travel Medicine

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5697897

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85028588607

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/jtm/taw099

PubMed ID

  • 28355613

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 24

issue

  • 3