PCR Targeted to the 16S-23S rRNA Gene Intergenic Spacer Region of Clostridium difficile and Construction of a Library Consisting of 116 Different PCR Ribotypes

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Abstract
A reference library of types of Clostridium difficile has been constructed by PCR ribotyping isolates ( n = 2,030) from environmental ( n = 89), hospital ( n = 1,386), community practitioner ( n = 395), veterinary ( n = 27), and reference ( n = 133) sources. The library consists of 116 distinct types identified on the basis of differences in profiles generated with PCR primers designed to amplify the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region. Isolates from 55% of infections in hospitals in the United Kingdom belonged to one ribotype (type 1), but this type was responsible for only 7.5% of community infections.