Peripartum Clostridium difficile infection: case series and review of the literature

Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control in Acute-Care Settings

“…This hypervirulent strain produces substantially larger amounts of toxins A and B than other strains of C. difficile (338), is associated with a deletion in the gene responsible for the downregulation of toxin production, and is highly resistant to fluoroquinolones (15,86,87). Severe CDI (with and without the epidemic BI/NAP1 strain) was also recently reported for previously healthy individuals with no health care exposure as well as peripartum women (60,108).…”

Clostridium difficileinfection

“…CDI has now been observed in previously healthy children and young adults, post-partum women, and persons with little or no previous antimicrobial exposure or hospitalization. [91][92][93][94][95] Since comparative rates (post-partum women) and functional implications of increased toxin-positive tests (children) are not available, these observations are likely best interpreted with caution. Nonetheless, the recent revelations raise the possibility that new paradigms may need to be considered while assessing CDI risk factors.…”

Pseudomembranous colitis in a pregnant woman

“…3,5,9 Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore forming bacilli causes exogenous infection by spores that are acquired by environmental contamination. 10 It colonizes the colonic mucosa of individuals in whom the normal bacterial flora is altered by administration of antibiotics. This results in overgrowth of C. difficile that renders its action by exotoxins causing mucosal damage and inflammation resulting in diarrhoea and colitis.…”