Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
04:18
Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice
Published on: October 10, 2025
[Clostridium difficile as a potential pathogen in preterm neonates]
Iva Vágnerová1, Ivana Kohnová, Jan Saitz
1Department of Microbiology, Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic. vagneri@fnol.cz
Klinicka Mikrobiologie a Infekcni Lekarstvi
|April 29, 2009
Summary
Clostridium difficile toxins A and B were detected in hospitalized patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The study also investigated the role of these toxins in neonates, comparing toxin detection with C. difficile cultures.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Antibiotic therapy can disrupt gut microbiota, increasing the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).
- CDI manifests as diarrhea and other abdominal symptoms, particularly in hospitalized patients.
- The role of C. difficile toxins in neonatal conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis warrants investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect Clostridium difficile toxins A and B in hospitalized patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
- To evaluate the potential involvement of these toxins in neonatal gastrointestinal issues, alongside intestinal immaturity.
- To correlate toxin detection with C. difficile culture results in stool samples.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples were collected from hospitalized patients experiencing diarrhea or abdominal symptoms linked to antibiotic use.
- Toxin A and B detection assays were performed on stool samples.
- C. difficile cultures were conducted on selected samples for comparison with toxin detection.
Main Results:
- Clostridium difficile toxins A and B were detected in the stool samples of symptomatic patients.
- Toxin detection was also performed in neonates, including those without gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Comparison between toxin detection and C. difficile culture results was conducted.
Conclusions:
- Clostridium difficile toxins are present in hospitalized patients with antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Further investigation is needed to fully elucidate the role of C. difficile toxins in neonatal conditions.
- Toxin detection assays provide a method for diagnosing CDI and can be correlated with microbiological cultures.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
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...
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
01:22Botulism
Botulism is a life-threatening neuroparalytic condition caused by botulinum neurotoxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobe.In adults, the toxin enters the body in different ways: in foodborne botulism, the preformed toxin is absorbed in the intestine. In wound botulism, spores grow in injured tissue and release the toxin into the blood. Infant botulism differs mechanistically from adult forms. In infants, botulism commonly...
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...