To reveal and to describe the risk factors for animal and human CDI, with a focus on pigs and C. difficile (CD) as a model for risk assessment and development of outbreak management strategies.

By using various microbiological techniques samples collected at pig farms, the environment of pig farms and in slaughterhouses will be analyzed for the presence of Clostridium difficile (CD). This will provide insight in the prevalence of CD in pigs and in pig products in the Netherlands. Information about the farm animal health status, the farm management and the health status of the farmers will be collected simultaneously. By applying descriptive and analytic epidemiology to the gathered data, the risk factors for animal CDI and the possible transmission of CDI from pigs to human will be elucidated. Furthermore, the effectiveness of intervention strategies will be tested in a prospective study on selected CD positive pig farms.

Effect of intensive farming on the health of people living in the direct surroundings of these farms.