Article
Rehabilitation
Justin Weppner, Joelle Gabet, Mark Linsenmeyer, Mohamed Yassin, Gary Galang
Summary: The study found the presence of C difficile spores in an acute rehabilitation environment and showed that proper disinfection methods can effectively reduce the risk of infection. It is important to sporicidally disinfect surfaces such as beds and wheelchairs to decrease the rates of C difficile infection.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ibrahim A. Al-Zahrani
Summary: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a global threat to many healthcare settings. Excessive use of antimicrobials, lack of optimal antibiotic policies, and suboptimal infection control practices have fueled the development of this health issue. Prudent use of antimicrobials and simple infection control measures can significantly reduce infection rates.
SAUDI MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jeffrey Scott Weese, Nathan Slovis, Joyce Rousseau
Summary: This study longitudinally evaluated Clostridium difficile shedding in neonatal foals and mares in a referral hospital neonatal intensive care unit. The results showed Clostridium difficile was isolated from 25% of samples, with at least one positive sample in 40% of foals and 31% of mares. Various ribotypes were identified, with ribotype 078 predominating.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Vanessa Lang, Katrin Gunka, Jan Rudolf Ortlepp, Ortrud Zimmermann, Uwe Gross
Summary: Nosocomial infections with Clostridioides difficile have emerged as a serious health threat. This study aimed to identify risk factors for C. difficile infection beyond the well-known factors. It found that regular consumption of proton pump inhibitors, low vegetable intake, and the use of the diuretic agent torasemid were additional risk factors for CDI.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Ryan M. Hanson, Amy J. Wagner
Summary: Severe, complicated Clostridium difficile colitis is rare in pediatric patients and little is known about its medical and surgical management in this population. A case report of a 15-year-old female patient with severe, complicated C difficile colitis successfully treated with diverting loop ileostomy and colonic lavage is presented. This approach, instead of subtotal colectomy and end ileostomy, should be considered as an alternative for pediatric patients with severe, complicated C difficile colitis.
Article
Immunology
Eric Wombwell, Mark E. Patterson, Bridget Bransteitter, Lisa R. Gillen
Summary: The study showed a reduced risk of HO-CDI in hospitalized patients prescribed antibiotics frequently associated with the infection when coadministered with Saccharomyces boulardii. Timing of administration also played a role, with reduced risk seen when the probiotic was given within 24 hours of antibiotic start.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lia Freier, Nicole Zacharias, Stefanie Gemein, Juergen Gebel, Steffen Engelhart, Martin Exner, Nico T. Mutters
Summary: Wastewater pipes serve as microbial ecosystems, which can pose a potential infection risk. This study investigates the impact of C. difficile-infected patients on environmental contamination and identifies potential reservoirs. The findings highlight the importance of addressing the risk of transmission and infection from these reservoirs to ensure patient safety.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Robert J. Brown, Michelle Raabe, Louise D. McCullough, Liang Zhu, Reena Chokshi
Summary: This study found a low incidence of CDI in stroke patients, with the highest rate in SAH patients. Male sex and steroid use were associated with a positive CDI result, and leukocytosis and fever occurred in less than half of infected patients. CDI did not impact outcome measures.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Piccioni, Federico Rosa, Federica Manca, Giulia Pignataro, Christian Zanza, Gabriele Savioli, Marcello Covino, Veronica Ojetti, Antonio Gasbarrini, Francesco Franceschi, Marcello Candelli
Summary: The composition of the human microbiome plays a crucial role in health, and alterations in the microbiota can lead to Clostridium difficile infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Meng Wang, Zifeng Deng, Yanmei Li, Yi Ma, Jufang Wang
Summary: A novel lytic protein Cw1-CWB2 with high binding specificity and strong lytic activity has been designed in this study for combating C. difficile.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jody Lawrence, Nicholas Kitchin, Annaliesa S. Anderson, Michael W. Pride, Kathrin U. Jansen, William C. Gruber, Yahong Peng, Kevin Yi, Charles Knirsch, Chris Webber
Summary: Two phase 1/phase 2 studies assessed the investigational bivalent Clostridioides difficile vaccine in healthy adults 50-85 years of age, with both formulations demonstrating robust immunogenicity. However, both studies were stopped early due to grade 3 injection site redness postdose 2 of the day regimen. Instead, an aluminum hydroxide-containing formulation of the vaccine candidate that was safe and immunogenic in phase 1 and 2 studies advanced to phase 3 studies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashleigh S. Paparella, Briana L. Aboulache, Rajesh K. Harijan, Kathryn S. Potts, Peter C. Tyler, Vern L. Schramm
Summary: Clostridium difficile produces toxins TcdA and TcdB causing diarrhea by affecting host cell functions using UDP-glucose, leading to disease onset. Researchers identified potential therapeutic approach using transition state analogue iminosugars.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Alexis Hess, Saskya Byerly, Emily Lenart, Cory Evans, Andrew Kerwin, Dina Filiberto
Summary: This study aimed to identify predictors of Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) in general surgery patients. Patients who underwent general surgery operations were analyzed, and it was found that older age, emergent operation, increased time to operation, infections at surgical sites, deep organ space infections, steroid use, metastatic cancer, smoking, and decreased body mass index (BMI) were independent predictors of CDI.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Dong Youn Kim, Yu-Mi Lee, Ki-Ho Park, Young Jin Kim, Kyung-Chung Kang, Chang Kyun Lee, Mi Suk Lee
Summary: The study revealed that the incidence of hospital-acquired CDI among patients who underwent orthopedic surgery was 0.7%, with factors such as age, preoperative hospital stay, operating time, and antibiotic use associated with CDI. The impact of CDI on excess length of stay was more significant in patients over 65 years old and those with comorbidities.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mao Hagihara, Tadashi Ariyoshi, Yasutoshi Kuroki, Shuhei Eguchi, Seiya Higashi, Takeshi Mori, Tsunemasa Nonogaki, Kenta Iwasaki, Makoto Yamashita, Nobuhiro Asai, Yusuke Koizumi, Kentaro Oka, Motomichi Takahashi, Yuka Yamagishi, Hiroshige Mikamo
Summary: CBM 588 enhances the antibacterial activity against C. difficile, reduces colon epithelial damage, and improves immunity through upregulating pathogen specific immunoglobulin A and enhancing gut epithelial barrier function to protect colon tissue from CDI.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Theodore Gouliouris, Francesc Coll, Catherine Ludden, Beth Blane, Kathy E. Raven, Plamena Naydenova, Charles Crawley, Mili Estee Torok, David A. Enoch, Nicholas M. Brown, Ewan M. Harrison, Julian Parkhill, Sharon J. Peacock
Summary: Longitudinal genomic surveillance of Enterococcus faecium carriage, environmental contamination, and transmission within a defined patient cohort revealed high endemicity of a hospital-adapted E. faecium lineage.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kathy E. Raven, Sophia T. Girgis, Asha Akram, Beth Blane, Danielle Leek, Nicholas Brown, Sharon J. Peacock
Summary: The study introduces a universal protocol for simultaneous DNA extraction and sequencing of multiple bacterial species, demonstrating high reproducibility and effectiveness. The addition of lysozyme and lysostaphin together proved to be essential for generating sufficient DNA across all 20 tested species, supporting low-volume and rapid turnaround time for local clinical microbiology laboratories.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nicholas M. Brown, Erwin M. Brown
Summary: The UK guidelines for MRSA infection treatment have been updated, incorporating new evidence and antibiotics for Gram-positive bacterial infections. However, the current literature review found a lack of strong evidence, resulting in a hybrid of varying degrees of evidence and expert opinion in the guidelines.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Biology
William L. Hamilton, Gerry Tonkin-Hill, Emily R. Smith, Dinesh Aggarwal, Charlotte J. Houldcroft, Ben Warne, Luke W. Meredith, Myra Hosmillo, Aminu S. Jahun, Martin D. Curran, Surendra Parmar, Laura G. Caller, Sarah L. Caddy, Fahad A. Khokhar, Anna Yakovleva, Grant Hall, Theresa Feltwell, Malte L. Pinckert, Iliana Georgana, Yasmin Chaudhry, Colin S. Brown, Sonia Goncalves, Roberto Amato, Ewan M. Harrison, Nicholas M. Brown, Mathew A. Beale, Michael Spencer Chapman, David K. Jackson, Ian Johnston, Alex Alderton, John Sillitoe, Cordelia Langford, Gordon Dougan, Sharon J. Peacock, Dominic P. Kwiatowski, Ian G. Goodfellow, M. Estee Torok
Summary: COVID-19 poses significant challenges in care homes due to high mortality rates and varied patterns of viral transmission. Limiting viral spread within care homes is crucial to reducing COVID-19 mortality in this population.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Emma Taylor, Abhijit M. Bal, Indran Balakrishnan, Nicholas M. Brown, Phillipa Burns, Marilyn Clark, Mathew Diggle, Hugo Donaldson, Ian Eltringham, Jonathan Folb, Naomi Gadsby, Mairi Macleod, Natasha V. D. V. Ratnaraja, Cheryl Williams, Mandy Wootton, Shiranee Sriskandan, Neil Woodford, Katie L. Hopkins
Summary: The prevalence of 16S RMTase-producing Gram-negative bacteria in patients in the UK is low, with armA being the most common gene identified. Potential risk factors for acquisition included being male and polymyxin use. Continued surveillance is necessary to monitor the spread of these bacteria and inform intervention strategies.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
L. D. Wright, N. Heywood, F. J. Cooke, N. M. Brown
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Christopher J. R. Illingworth, William L. Hamilton, Ben Warne, Matthew Routledge, Ashley Popay, Chris Jackson, Tom Fieldman, Luke W. Meredith, Charlotte J. Houldcroft, Myra Hosmillo, Aminu S. Jahun, Laura G. Caller, Sarah L. Caddy, Anna Yakovleva, Grant Hall, Fahad A. Khokhar, Theresa Feltwell, Malte L. Pinckert, Iliana Georgana, Yasmin Chaudhry, Martin D. Curran, Surendra Parmar, Dominic Sparkes, Lucy Rivett, Nick K. Jones, Sushmita Sridhar, Sally Forrest, Tom Dymond, Kayleigh Grainger, Chris Workman, Mark Ferris, Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas, Nicholas M. Brown, Michael P. Weekes, Stephen Baker, Sharon J. Peacock, Ian G. Goodfellow, Theodore Gouliouris, Daniela de Angelis, M. Estee Torok
Summary: The study revealed an uneven pattern of transmission between individuals, with patients more likely to be infected by other patients. The data also showed a pattern of superspreading, where 21% of individuals caused 80% of transmission events.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Catherine Ludden, Francesc Coll, Theodore Gouliouris, Olivier Restif, Beth Blane, Grace A. Blackwell, Narender Kumar, Plamena Naydenova, Charles Crawley, Nicholas M. Brown, Julian Parkhill, Sharon J. Peacock
Summary: This study detected and characterized the transmission of E coli and associated plasmids in a hospital setting. Analysis revealed extensive diversity in the bacterial population and mixed E coli sequence type carriage. Using genetic cutoffs, multiple transmission clusters were identified, challenging the notion of plasmid spread.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher J. R. Illingworth, William L. Hamilton, Christopher Jackson, Ben Warne, Ashley Popay, Luke Meredith, Myra Hosmillo, Aminu Jahun, Tom Fieldman, Matthew Routledge, Charlotte J. Houldcroft, Laura Caller, Sarah Caddy, Anna Yakovleva, Grant Hall, Fahad A. Khokhar, Theresa Feltwell, Malte L. Pinckert, Iliana Georgana, Yasmin Chaudhry, Martin Curran, Surendra Parmar, Dominic Sparkes, Lucy Rivett, Nick K. Jones, Sushmita Sridhar, Sally Forrest, Tom Dymond, Kayleigh Grainger, Chris Workman, Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas, Nicholas M. Brown, Michael P. Weekes, Stephen Baker, Sharon J. Peacock, Theodore Gouliouris, Ian Goodfellow, Daniela De Angelis, M. Estee Torok
Summary: This article describes a method for rapid identification of potentially linked cases of COVID-19 infection in a clinical setting. The method combines knowledge about infection dynamics, data describing individuals' movements, and evolutionary analysis of genome sequences to assess whether data collected from infection cases are consistent or inconsistent with direct transmission linkage. The results of a retrospective analysis and real-time application show the value of this method in monitoring infection cases in a clinical context.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dinesh Aggarwal, Ben Warne, Aminu S. Jahun, William L. Hamilton, Thomas Fieldman, Louis du Plessis, Verity Hill, Beth Blane, Emmeline Watkins, Elizabeth Wright, Grant Hall, Catherine Ludden, Richard Myers, Myra Hosmillo, Yasmin Chaudhry, Malte L. Pinckert, Iliana Georgana, Rhys Izuagbe, Danielle Leek, Olisaeloka Nsonwu, Gareth J. Hughes, Simon Packer, Andrew J. Page, Marina Metaxaki, Stewart Fuller, Gillian Weale, Jon Holgate, Christopher A. Brown, Rob Howes, Duncan McFarlane, Gordon Dougan, Oliver G. Pybus, Daniela De Angelis, Patrick H. Maxwell, Sharon J. Peacock, Michael P. Weekes, Chris Illingworth, Ewan M. Harrison, Nicholas J. Matheson, Ian G. Goodfellow
Summary: Understanding the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in higher education settings is crucial in limiting spread among students and at-risk populations. A study conducted at the University of Cambridge analyzed viral isolates and found limited introductions of the virus into the university. Student cases were primarily linked to a single genetic cluster, likely originating from social gatherings outside of the university. Transmission was observed within student accommodations and courses but was effectively contained through local infection control measures and a national lockdown. The study highlights important factors in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and effective interventions in higher education settings.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Adrian A. Boyle, Susie Hardwick, Ben Warne, Chukwuneyem Kosisochukwu Nwuba, Nicholas Brown, Ashley Shaw
Summary: Accurate point-of-care testing for SARS-CoV-2 is essential in identifying patients who need isolation and improving the flow of emergency admissions. However, both the Siemens Clinitest Lateral Flow Test and the SAMBA-2 PCR test did not show sufficient sensitivity in ruling out active SARS-CoV-2 infection, although they both demonstrated high specificity.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Nicholas M. Brown, Anna L. Goodman, Carolyne Horner, Abi Jenkins, Erwin M. Brown
Summary: These evidence-based guidelines are an updated version of those issued in 2008, following a review of literature from 2007-18 on the treatment of MRSA infections. They consider changes in UK MRSA epidemiology and the efficacy of novel anti-staphylococcal agents licensed in the UK, as well as assessing emerging therapies not yet licensed in the UK.
JAC-ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jordan P. Skittrall, Mary D. Fortune, Hamid Jalal, Hongyi Zhang, David A. Enoch, Nicholas M. Brown, Anne Swift
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE
(2021)
Correction
Critical Care Medicine
Mailis Maes, Ellen Higginson, Joana Pereira-Dias, Martin D. Curran, Surendra Parmar, Fahad Khokhar, Delphine Cuchet-Lourenco, Janine Lux, Sapna Sharma-Hajela, Benjamin Ravenhill, Islam Hamed, Laura Heales, Razeen Mahroof, Amelia Soderholm, Sally Forrest, Sushmita Sridhar, Nicholas M. Brown, Stephen Baker, Vilas Navapurkar, Gordon Dougan, Josefn Bartholdson Scott, Andrew Conway Morris
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Mailis Maes, Ellen Higginson, Joana Pereira-Dias, Martin D. Curran, Surendra Parmar, Fahad Khokhar, Delphine Cuchet-Lourenco, Janine Lux, Sapna Sharma-Hajela, Benjamin Ravenhill, Islam Hamed, Laura Heales, Razeen Mahroof, Amelia Solderholm, Sally Forrest, Sushmita Sridhar, Nicholas M. Brown, Stephen Baker, Vilas Navapurkar, Gordon Dougan, Josefin Bartholdson Scott, Andrew Conway Morris
Summary: This study found that COVID-19 patients were more likely to develop VAP, with 3 cases of invasive aspergillosis identified among them and herpesvirade activation being more frequent. The causative organisms of secondary pneumonia observed were similar between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, suggesting a link to pulmonary dysbiosis caused by COVID-19.