Clostridium difficile ribotype 027, toxinotype III, the Netherlands

Outbreaks due to Clostridium difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotype 027, toxinotype 111, were detected in 7 hospitals in the Netherlands from April 2005 to February 2006. One hospital experienced at the same time a second outbreak due to a toxin A-negative C. difficile PCR ribotype 017 toxinotype VIII strain. The outbreaks are difficult to control