The ESCMID Study Group for Clostridioides difficile (ESGCD) is committed to spreading awareness on C. difficile infections by fostering collaboration across European centres and providing a forum for knowledge sharing. Together, this group is dedicated to:
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Clostridioides difficile: a dual-site study of three different media and three therapeutic antimicrobials.
Freeman J, Sanders IMJG, Harmanus C, Clark EV, Berry AM, Smits WK. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2025 Jun;31(6):1011-1017
Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infections.
van Prehn J, Kuijper EJ, Dubberke ER. JAMA. 2025 Oct 20.
Genomic islands and molecular mechanisms relating to drug-resistance in Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile PCR ribotype 176.
Krutova M, Kovarovic V, Brajerova M, Demay F, Zikova J, Prasad S, Soltesova A, Novakova E, Pituch H, Kuijper E, Smits WK, Novotna GB. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2025 Dec;14(1):2482698
Clostridioides difficile should be considered a bacterial priority pathogen.
Smits WK, Garey KW, Riley TV, Han YW, Young VB, Heritage J, Lillis CJ, Lyras D, Rupnik M, Johnson S. Lancet Microbe. 2025 Nov;6(11):101184. doi: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101184
Distribution of Clostridioides difficile ribotypes and sequence types across humans, animals and food in 13 European countries
Rupnik M, Viprey V, Janezic S, Tkalec V, Davis G, Sente B, Devos N, Muller BH, Santiago-Allexant E, Cleuziat P, Wilcox M, Davies K; COMBACTE-CDI consortium. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2024 Dec;13(1):2427804
Antimicrobial susceptibility in Clostridioides difficile varies according to European region and isolate source
Freeman J, Viprey V, Ewin D, Spittal W, Clark E, Vernon J, Fawley W, Davis G, Tkalec V, Wilcox M, Rupnik M, Davies K; COMBACTE-CDI Consortium. JAC Antimicrob Resist. 2024 Jul 23;6(4):dlae112
Heterogeneity in practices to reduce the risk of transmission of Clostridioides difficile in healthcare settings: a survey of ESCMID Study Group for Clostridioides difficile (ESGCD) members
Khanafer NL, Fitzpatrick F, Barbut F, Krutova M, Davies K, Guery B, Vanhems P. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2024 Apr;43(4):785-7894
The ESCMID Study Group for Clostridioides difficile: History, Role, and Perspectives
Coia JE, Kuijper EJ, Fitzpatrick F. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024;1435:351-362
The effect of antibiotic therapy for Clostridioides difficile infection on mortality and other patient-relevant outcomes.
Van Prehn J, Skinner AM, Krutova M, Guery B. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2024;30(2):261–262.
Which trial do we need? A sequential multiple assignment randomized trial to determine the optimal Clostridioides difficile treatment sequence.
Van Prehn J, van Werkhoven CH, Skinner AM, Guery B, Dubberke ER, Kuijper EJ. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2024;30(2):165–169.
Hear my voice: involving patients in Clostridioides difficile infection research.
Strawbridge J, Heritage J, Krůtová M, Guery B, Davies K, Fitzpatrick F, Freeman J. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2023;29(10):1222-1224.
In vivo emergence of a still uncommon resistance to fidaxomicin in the urgent antimicrobial resistance threat Clostridioides difficile.
Marchandin H, Anjou C, Poulen G, Freeman J, Wilcox M, Jean-Pierre H, Barbut F. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2023;78(8):1992–1999.
European survey on the current surveillance practices, management guidelines, treatment pathways and heterogeneity of testing of Clostridioides difficile, 2018- 2019: results from The Combatting Bacterial Resistance in Europe CDI (COMBACTE- CDI).
Viprey VF, Granata G, Vendrik KEW, Davis GL, Petrosillo N, Kuijper EJ, Vilken T, Lammens C, Schotsman JJ, Benson AD, Cataldo MA, van der Kooi TII, Wilcox MH, Davies KA; COMBACTE-CDI consortium. J Hosp Infect. 2023;131:213–220
Faecal microbiota transplantation for first and second episodes of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Van Prehn J, Fitzpatrick F, Kuijper EJ; European Study Group for Clostridioides difficile and the European Study Group for Host and Microbiota Interaction. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;8(2):109.
Faecal microbiota transplantation for first and second episodes of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Krutova M, Davies K, Guery B, Barbut F. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;8(2):111-112.
Hear my voice: involving patients in Clostridioides difficile infection research.
Strawbridge J, Heritage J, Krůtová M, Guery B, Davies K, Fitzpatrick F, Freeman J. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2023;29(10):1222-1224.
In vivo emergence of a still uncommon resistance to fidaxomicin in the urgent antimicrobial resistance threat Clostridioides difficile.
Marchandin H, Anjou C, Poulen G, Freeman J, Wilcox M, Jean-Pierre H, Barbut F. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2023;78(8):1992–1999.
European survey on the current surveillance practices, management guidelines, treatment pathways and heterogeneity of testing of Clostridioides difficile, 2018- 2019: results from The Combatting Bacterial Resistance in Europe CDI (COMBACTE- CDI).
Viprey VF, Granata G, Vendrik KEW, Davis GL, Petrosillo N, Kuijper EJ, Vilken T, Lammens C, Schotsman JJ, Benson AD, Cataldo MA, van der Kooi TII, Wilcox MH, Davies KA; COMBACTE-CDI consortium. J Hosp Infect. 2023;131:213–220
Faecal microbiota transplantation for first and second episodes of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Van Prehn J, Fitzpatrick F, Kuijper EJ; European Study Group for Clostridioides difficile and the European Study Group for Host and Microbiota Interaction. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;8(2):109.
Faecal microbiota transplantation for first and second episodes of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Krutova M, Davies K, Guery B, Barbut F. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;8(2):111-112.
The ESGCD Xmas webinar: 5 “cases” selected from ECR abstract submissions
16 December 2025, 15:00 CET
Challenge with non-toxigenic Clostridiodies difficile in healthy volunteers with expected and surprising findings
25 November 2025, 16:00 - 17:00 CET
ESGCD: The Xmas webinar: 3 “cases” selected from ECR abstract submissions
9 December 2024, 15:00 CET
Update on Live biotherapeutic products and FMT-like treatments for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections (ESGCD and ESGHAMI)
21 June 2023
ESGCD Back to basics: Listening and responding to patients experiencing C. difficile infection
6 June 2023
ESGCD Back to basics: Diagnosis of C. difficile Infection
22 March 2023
Go to webinar
ESGCD has generated educational infographics on C. difficile infections to communicate to a broad audience.
Cartoon illustrating why antibiotic treatment is a risk factor for the development of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Artist: Lizah van der Aart. Concept: Wiep Klaas Smits
If you have questions or comments for our study group, we warmly invite you to contact us!
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