Aerial dissemination of Clostridium difficile on a pig farm and its environment

Abstract

Clostridium difficile is increasingly recognized as an important enteropathogen in both humans and animals. The finding of C. difficile in air samples in hospitals suggests a role for aerial dissemination in the transmission of human C. difficile infection. The present study was designed to investigate the occurrence of airborne C. difficile in, and nearby a pig farm with a high prevalence of C. difficile. Airborne colony counts in the farrowing pens peaked on the moments shortly after or during personnel activity in the pens (P = 0.043 (farrowing pen 1,2), P = 0.034 (farrowing pen 2)). A decrease in airborne C. difficile colony counts was observed parallel to aging of the piglets. Airborne C. difficile was detected up to 20 m distant from the farm. This study showed the widespread character of aerial dissemination of C. difficile on a pig farm and the association between personnel activity in farrowing pens and an increase of C. difficile in the air.