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
Cell Biology
Qiwen Dong, Huaiying Lin, Marie-Maude Allen, Julian R. Garneau, Jonathan K. Sia, Rita C. Smith, Fidel Haro, Tracy McMillen, Rosemary L. Pope, Carolyn Metcalfe, Victoria Burgo, Che Woodson, Nicholas Dylla, Claire Kohout, Anitha Sundararajan, Evan S. Snitkin, Vincent B. Young, Louis-Charles Fortier, Mini Kamboj, Eric G. Pamer
Summary: Clostridioides difficile strains of different virulence levels contribute to varying severity of colitis. This study found that a natural deletion in the cdtR gene attenuates virulence in epidemic ST1 C. difficile isolates without affecting colonization. Distinguishing strains based on the presence of cdtR may improve the specificity of diagnostic tests for C. difficile colitis.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tebelay Dilnessa, Alem Getaneh, Workagegnehu Hailu, Feleke Moges, Baye Gelaw
Summary: A high prevalence of C. difficile was observed among hospitalized patients, emphasizing the need for attention and prevention. The resistance of C. difficile to metronidazole and vancomycin was lower compared to other antibiotics.
Article
Immunology
Cosmos L. T. Guo, Thomas N. Y. Kwong, Joyce W. Y. Mak, Lin Zhang, Grace C. Y. Lui, Grace L. H. Wong, Margaret Ip, Jun Yu, Joseph J. Y. Sung, William K. K. Wu, Sunny H. Wong
Summary: A territorywide survey in Hong Kong found a significant number of CDI cases among hospitalized patients, with the majority being healthcare-associated. While the incidence of CDI increased over the years, it plateaued in 2018 and 2019, with a decrease in 30-day mortality rates and constant 60-day recurrence rates. The study also showed a strong correlation between CDI incidence trend and overall antimicrobial drug use, which has decreased due to an antibiotic stewardship program initiated in 2017.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jieun Kim, Bongyoung Kim, Hyunjoo Pai
Summary: The objective of this study was to determine the trend and diversity of binary toxin-positive Clostridioides difficile over 10 years in Korea. Among the 3278 isolates in 2009-2018, 58 possessed binary toxin genes, with the proportion of CDT-positive isolates increasing over the 10-year period. Thirteen sequence types were identified, with ST1 strains showing resistance to several antibiotics.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jen-Chieh Lee, Yuan -Pin Hung, Bo -Yang Tsai, Pei -Jane Tsai, Wen -Chien Ko
Summary: Severe CDIs in the ICU were not rare in this study. The ileus group tended to have more severe presentation, with severe and fulminant CDIs accounting for 65.2% and an ICU mortality rate of 39.1%. Clinicians should be aware of abdominal symptoms and signs other than diarrhea, such as ileus, for timely diagnosis and management of CDI.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Peng An Khun, Thomas V. Riley
Summary: This review provides an overview of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in southeast Asia, including its prevalence, detection methods, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and the potential significance of a One Health approach. CDI is a common cause of hospital-acquired gastroenteritis worldwide, with higher rates observed in high-income countries. Lack of knowledge and awareness about CDI, along with antimicrobial abuse and inadequate education on appropriate usage, contribute to its evolution. Underreporting of CDI rates and misuse of antimicrobial agents pose a significant threat in regions like Indochina, while C. difficile RT 017 strain is endemic in southeast Asia.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ren-feng Zhang, Yu-xia Man, Yuan-yuan Bai, Chun-hong Shao, Chun-mei Liu, Cong-hui Wang, Yong-xing Lei, Yong Wang, Yan Jin
Summary: This study identified and characterized five C. difficile 027 isolates in China, showing high resistance to fluoroquinolones. These isolates were confirmed through MLST, PCR ribotyping, and whole genome sequencing. The findings suggest that C. difficile 027 infections may be neglected in China, warranting further epidemiological studies nationwide.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Peng An Khun, Long Duc Phi, Phuong Thi Pham, Ha Thi Thu Nguyen, Quyen Thi Huyen Vu, Deirdre A. Collins, Thomas V. Riley
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence, molecular epidemiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridioides difficile in children with diarrhea in Vietnam. The results showed a high prevalence of C. difficile, but a comparatively low proportion of toxigenic strains.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Ishani Wickramage, Patrizia Spigaglia, Xingmin Sun
Summary: Clostridioides difficile (CD) is a major concern as one of the top five antibiotic resistance threats in the USA, with a global increase in multidrug resistance and emergence of more virulent strains. Understanding the evolving antibiotic resistance mechanisms of CD is crucial for guiding antibiotic stewardship policies and developing new therapeutic targets. Epidemiological surveillance and strain-specific characteristics are key in combating the spread of resistance genes among different CD strains.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Masayuki Hiraki, Rei Suzuki, Nobuo Tanaka, Hiroki Fukunaga, Yoshinori Kinoshita, Hayato Kimura, Shusaku Tsutsui, Masaru Murata, Shunji Morita
Summary: This case report presents a rare case of community-acquired fulminant pseudomembranous colitis caused by ribotype 027 C. difficile after H. pylori eradication therapy in a 68-year-old woman. In Japan, this strain is reported to be uncommon, making this case notable.
SURGICAL CASE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amanda Nadia Diniz, Loren Nery Fontoura Moura, Diogo Soares Goncalves Cruz, Carlos Augusto Oliveira Junior, Henrique Cesar Pereira Figueiredo, Joao Luis Reis Cunha, Eduardo Garcia Vilela, Edward J. Kuijper, Mark H. Wilcox, Francisco Carlos Faria Lobato, Rodrigo Otavio Silveira Silva
Summary: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a global healthcare problem, and new strains continue to emerge. This study characterized three novel Brazilian clade 2 strains of C. difficile and conducted a two-year survey in animals and humans. The results suggest that these new clade 2 strains have virulence potential and continue to emerge in Brazil.
Article
Immunology
Amrei Krings, Josephine Jacob, Frank Seeber, Uwe Pleyer, Jochen Walker, Klaus Stark, Hendrik Wilking
Summary: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection with a substantial disease burden in Germany. The average annual incidence was estimated to be 8,047 patients, with the highest incidence in 2011 at 10.6/100,000 population and the lowest in 2016 at 8.0/100,000 population. Pregnancy-associated toxoplasmosis had a higher average incidence of 40.3/100,000 pregnancies. Public health and food safety authorities should implement specific prevention programs for toxoplasmosis.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
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)
Review
Microbiology
Mitsutoshi Senoh, Haru Kato
Summary: This study reviewed the molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in Japan. The major prevalent PCR-ribotypes and their antimicrobial resistance patterns have remained relatively stable since the late 1990s. However, there have been shifts in some ribotypes and the emergence of a nosocomial outbreak in recent years. Establishing a nationwide strain-based surveillance system is crucial for understanding the burden of CDI in Japan.