Figure 1
The Clostridium difficile epidemiological state transitions simulated by the stochastic model.
The left column details colonisation with ‘typical’ endemic strains and the right column details colonisation with hypervirulent strains. From reviewing the literature, three possible areas were identified that differentiated transitions in hypervirulent strains from endemic strains: 1) Hypervirulent strains are more infectious (modelled by increasing the transmission coefficient); 2) Hypervirulent strains give rise to a higher symptomatic rate; and 3) Hypervirulent strains can outcompete endemic strains in the host’s gut.
