Brussels, 04/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - In Stockholm on Thursday 31 July, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published a new report on clostridium difficile (C. difficile) following a recent epidemic in several European countries linked to a new hyper-virulent strain (PCR ribotype 027) causing severe diarrhoea, severe inflammation of the bowel and even death in certain cases. In June 2008, C. difficile PCR ribotype 027 had been reported by healthcare facilities in 16 European countries (Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Consequently, the ECDC recommends a review of infection control and prevention measures: early diagnosis, surveillance, education of staff, appropriate isolation precautions, hand hygiene, use of protective clothing, environmental cleaning and cleaning of medical equipment, good antibiotic stewardship. For further information: (http: //ecdc.europa.eu) and (http://www.eurosurveillance.org ) (O.J./trans/rh).