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

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 pens 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 widespread aerial dissemination of C. difficile on a pig farm that was positively associated with personnel activity.