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Advances in C. difficile research
June 02, 2008New research into the toxins, virulence, spread and prevention of the superbug Clostridium difficile is reported in the June special issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology. These findings will play a crucial role in providing us with ammunition in the fight against a sometimes deadly pathogen.
Clostridium difficile is found in the environment but is most common in hospitals. It can cause a serious hospital-acquired infection when antibiotics are used as they upset the balance of the normal gut flora, allowing C. difficile to grow and produce toxins. It is carried in the guts of 3% of healthy humans but carriage rates in hospital patients tend to be much higher and elderly people in hospitals, being treated with antibiotics are most at risk of developing infection. The bacteria produce spores when they encounter unfavourable conditions. Transmission of infection is through the ingestion of these spores which can survive on surfaces and floors for years and are resistant to many disinfectants and antiseptics, including alcohol hand gel.
Symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, bowel inflammation and possible perforation, which can be fatal. Only two antibiotics are regularly used to treat C. difficile infection: metronidazole and vancomycin, but relapse is a common problem following treatment. In 2004, a hypervirulent strain (C. difficile 027/NAP1/BI) was reported, which appears to make toxins more rapidly and at higher levels than other strains, as well as being resistant to many antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones.
Several studies in the Journal of Medical Microbiology look at the spread of C. difficile in different countries, including Austria and Korea. Research shows that the use of antibiotic increased the risk of outbreaks of the hypervirulent strain of C. difficile in the Netherlands. The issue also contains evidence to suggest that C. difficile could be spread between animals and humans - researchers have isolated the bacterium from food animals in Slovenia.
Scientists investigated the effects of antibiotics, antigens and other agents on the virulence and pathogenicity of C. difficile. Toxins were also studied; research reveals some important information about the synthesis, processing and effects of different toxins. A new gene sequence has been discovered in the hypervirulent C. difficile 027 strain, which could be related to its increased virulence by affecting toxin binding.
The potential for a 'designer' probiotic for C. difficile is discussed. Professor Ian Poxton, former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Microbiology said "this is an important approach that is hopefully much better than previously reported studies using commercially available yoghurt-like drinks, and certainly more palatable than 'faecal transplants'."
Society for General Microbiology
Several studies in the Journal of Medical Microbiology look at the spread of C. difficile in different countries, including Austria and Korea. Research shows that the use of antibiotic increased the risk of outbreaks of the hypervirulent strain of C. difficile in the Netherlands. The issue also contains evidence to suggest that C. difficile could be spread between animals and humans - researchers have isolated the bacterium from food animals in Slovenia.
Scientists investigated the effects of antibiotics, antigens and other agents on the virulence and pathogenicity of C. difficile. Toxins were also studied; research reveals some important information about the synthesis, processing and effects of different toxins. A new gene sequence has been discovered in the hypervirulent C. difficile 027 strain, which could be related to its increased virulence by affecting toxin binding.
The potential for a 'designer' probiotic for C. difficile is discussed. Professor Ian Poxton, former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Microbiology said "this is an important approach that is hopefully much better than previously reported studies using commercially available yoghurt-like drinks, and certainly more palatable than 'faecal transplants'."
Society for General Microbiology
Clostridium Difficile News and Current Clostridium Difficile Events RSSThe balance shifts
The risk of contracting a Clostridium difficile infection following operations for which a "prophylactic" antibiotic is given to prevent infection is 21 times greater now than it was just a decade ago, according to researchers from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada. They report their findings in the June 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, currently available online.
ASGE issues updated infection control guidelines for gastrointestinal endoscopy
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has updated its infection control guidelines regarding gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.
UV lotion lights the way to cleaner facilities
A team of Canadian scientists using a lotion which glows under ultraviolet light have shown that up to a third of patient toilets are not properly cleaned.
Report raises C. diff concerns; yeast-based probiotic shown to help significantly reduce recurrence
C. diff-associated disease (CDAD), otherwise known as severe intestinal disease brought on by the Clostridium difficile (C. diff) pathogen, has been the subject of heightened concern in the medical community.
MRSA in hospital intensive care -- what's growing where?
Researchers are finding out which bugs grow in intensive care units to develop a novel sampling regime that would indicate the threat of MRSA and other superbugs in the environment, scientists heard today (Monday 31 March 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting being held this week at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
APIC launches first national C. difficile prevalence study
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) today announced a detailed strategy to combat Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD).
Confronting the challenge of antimicrobial resistance
Drug resistance is making many diseases increasingly difficult--and sometimes impossible--to treat, according to Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Cethromycin achieves all endpoints in second pivotal Phase III Trial for treatment for pneumonia
Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADLS), today announced positive results from Trial CL-05, the second of two pivotal phase III clinical trials designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of cethromycin, a novel once-a-day oral antibiotic for the treatment of mild-to-moderate community acquired pneumonia (CAP), the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
C-diff infection 4 times more likely to kill patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Clostridium difficile infection is four times more likely to kill patients with inflammatory bowel disease, suggests research published ahead of print in the journal Gut.
Dangerous diarrheal bacterium found on asymptomatic patients
The bacterium that causes a highly contagious and sometimes deadly form of diarrhea is frequently carried by persons who do not have any of the disease symptoms. These findings have dramatic implications for health care workers who have customarily treated and isolated only those patients who exhibit symptoms.
More Clostridium Difficile News Articles
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 | Clostridium Difficile - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References by ICON Health Publications This is a 3-in-1 reference book. It gives a complete medical dictionary covering hundreds of terms and expressions relating to Clostridium difficile. It also gives extensive lists of bibliographic citations. Finally, it provides information to users on how to update their knowledge using various Internet resources. The book is designed for physicians, medical students preparing for Board... |
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| Virulent outbreaks worry experts: new epidemic strain of Clostridium difficile has been isolated in nine states and Canada.(News): An article from: Skin & Allergy News by Betsy Bates This digital document is an article from Skin & Allergy News, published by International Medical News Group on June 1, 2005. The length of the article is 817 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation... | |
 | Clostridium difficile (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology) Clostridium difficile has been recognized as the cause of a broad spectrum of enteric disease ranging from mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis. This volume gives new insights into the microbiology, diagnostics and epidemiology of Clostridium difficile and describes recent strategies in treatment of diseases caused by this agent. Main parts of the volume are devoted to... |
| Hand gels not enough to block C. difficile.(News): An article from: OB GYN News by Betsy Bates This digital document is an article from OB GYN News, published by Thomson Gale on June 1, 2005. The length of the article is 564 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Hand gels not... | |
| Clostridium Difficile Diarrhoea (Facts About) | |
| Levofloxacin, cefazolin boost risk for C. difficile diarrhea.(Clostridium difficile): An article from: Internal Medicine News by Mitchel L. Zoler This digital document is an article from Internal Medicine News, published by International Medical News Group on July 1, 2004. The length of the article is 571 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation... | |
| Leukemoid reactions complicating colitis due to clostridium difficile.(Original Article): An article from: Southern Medical Journal by Mark A. Marinella, Steven D. Burdette, Roger Bedimo, Ronald J. Markert This digital document is an article from Southern Medical Journal, published by Southern Medical Association on October 1, 2004. The length of the article is 4180 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation... |
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