UV-visible marker confirms that environmental persistence of Clostridium difficile spores in toilets of patients with C. difficile-associated diarrhea is associated with lack of compliance with cleaning protocol.

Table 1 Correlation of cleaning efficacy by UVM marker removal and the presence of toxigenic C. difficile in patients with CDAD

UVM Cleaning score*	Number	Toxigenic C. difficile detected** (% of samples with that UVM score)
Toilets (7 patients; 102 samples)
0	52	22 (41.5%)
1	8	2 (8.7%)
2	9	2 (8.8%)
3	33	8 (24.2%)
TOTAL:	102	34 (33.3%)
Commodes (5 patients; 32 samples)
0	4	1 (25%)
1	3	2 (66.7%)
2	2	2 (100%)
3	23	15 (65.2%)
TOTAL:	32	20 (62.5%)

* Cleaning score: Visual inspection was used to assess how much of the UVM remained on the underside of the toilet seat as outlined in the Materials and Methods section.
** Toxigenic C. difficile detected: The Rodac culture plate contained at least one colony of C. difficile that was confirmed to be toxigenic (i.e. produced Toxin B mediated cytopathic effect using the tissue culture assay).

ISSN: 1471-2334