Importance Clostridium difficileinfection (CDI) has been increasingly reported among
healthy individuals in the community. Recent data suggest that community-associated CDI
represents one-third of allC difficilecases. The epidemiology and potential sources ofC
difficilein the community are not fully understood. Objectives To determine epidemiological
and clinical characteristics of community-associated CDI and to explore potential sources
ofC difficileacquisition in the community. Design and Setting Active population-based and …