Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
12:58
A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: May 25, 2017
Clostridium difficile: changing epidemiology and new treatment options
Ed J Kuijper1, Jaap T van Dissel, Mark H Wilcox
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. e.j.kuijper@lumc.nl
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|July 5, 2007
Summary
A hypervirulent Clostridium difficile strain (NAP1/027) is causing severe outbreaks globally. Early recognition and targeted treatment are crucial for managing this challenging infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is a significant healthcare concern.
- Recent outbreaks have shown increased severity, relapse rates, and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent changes in the epidemiology of CDAD.
- To review updated treatment strategies for CDAD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on CDAD outbreaks and treatments.
- Analysis of emerging Clostridium difficile strains and their characteristics.
Main Results:
- A hypervirulent strain, North American pulsed-field type 1 (NAP1)/polymerase chain reaction ribotype 027 (PCR 027), is linked to severe outbreaks worldwide.
- This strain has been detected in North America, Japan, and Europe, and in animal and food samples.
- New definitions for severe and community-acquired CDAD have been proposed.
- Antibiotic stewardship, particularly limiting cephalosporins, clindamycin, and fluoroquinolones, is key to prevention.
- New antibiotic and non-antibiotic treatments are available, but probiotics are not recommended.
- Multiple relapses of CDAD pose a significant therapeutic challenge.
Conclusions:
- Early recognition of NAP1/027-associated CDAD is essential for prompt treatment.
- Rapid intervention can prevent complications and limit further spread of the infection.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
01:17Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a subtype of IBS characterized primarily by frequent, loose, or watery stools, abdominal pain, and abdominal discomfort. Therapeutic approaches to managing IBS-D include dietary changes, stress management techniques, and pharmaceutical interventions.
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
01:18Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota
The human gut microbiome includes a diverse array of microbial species, including beneficial commensals and opportunistic pathogens, which interact to support host health. These microbes contribute to essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, immune system modulation, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. However, disruptions to this equilibrium—referred to as dysbiosis—can have widespread physiological consequences.Dysbiosis is often characterized by reduced microbial...
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Upon diagnosis, managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves addressing several crucial aspects. The primary goals include resting the bowel, correcting malnutrition, and providing symptomatic relief. Resting the bowel may consist of medications to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Correcting malnutrition is essential, often requiring dietary adjustments and nutritional supplements. Symptomatic relief aims to ease pain, diarrhea, and other discomforts in IBD.
Pharmacologic...
Pharmacologic...
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
01:21Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...