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Clostridium sordellii in diarrhoeal stools, its medical significance
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Abstract:
The 3 Clostridium sordellii strains were isolated from the immunocompromised patient's infected-stool. These isolates were studied in detail. One strain revealed the weakly positive cytotoxin with human diploid fibroblasts whereas the other strain showed induration and edema (VP factor). All strains were confirmed to be Cl.sordellii with specific Cl.sordellii antitoxin. None of them harboured enterotoxin but they were very sensitive to imipenem cefoxitin, moderately sensitive to moxalactam. The role of probable pathophysiologic infection in the human bowel of these isolates are also discussed in this article.
Insights
Three Clostridium sordellii strains from an immunocompromised patient were analyzed. While lacking enterotoxin, isolates showed varying virulence factors and antibiotic sensitivities, informing potential bowel infection roles.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Clostridium sordellii is an anaerobic bacterium known to cause severe infections.
- Understanding the pathogenic potential and characteristics of C. sordellii isolates is crucial for clinical management.
- Infections in immunocompromised individuals can be particularly challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize three Clostridium sordellii strains isolated from an immunocompromised patient.
- To investigate the presence of cytotoxin and V/P factor in these isolates.
- To determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the C. sordellii strains.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial isolation from stool samples of an immunocompromised patient.
- Cytotoxin assays using human diploid fibroblasts.
- Virulence factor (VP factor) assessment.
- Species confirmation using specific Clostridium sordellii antitoxin.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing (imipenem, cefoxitin, moxalactam).
Main Results:
- All three isolates were confirmed as Clostridium sordellii.
- One strain exhibited weak positive cytotoxin activity against human diploid fibroblasts.
- Another strain demonstrated the presence of the V/P factor (induration and edema).
- No enterotoxin was detected in any of the strains.
- Isolates showed high sensitivity to imipenem and cefoxitin, and moderate sensitivity to moxalactam.
Conclusions:
- The characterized Clostridium sordellii strains possess varying virulence factors.
- The antibiotic susceptibility profile suggests specific treatment options for infections caused by these strains.
- Further discussion on the pathophysiological role of these isolates in human bowel infections is warranted.