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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: May 25, 2017
Bactericidal activity of telavancin, vancomycin and metronidazole against Clostridium difficile
Ellie J C Goldstein1, Diane M Citron, Kerin L Tyrrell
1R. M. Alden Research Laboratory, Culver City, CA 90230, USA. ejcgmd@aol.com
Abstract:
We compared the time-kill activities of telavancin, vancomycin and metronidazole at concentrations of 2 times, 4 times, and 8 times their respective MICs against five Clostridium difficile strains including REA type BI, using inocula that contained predominantly either vegetative cells or spores. Telavancin MICs (0.125-0.25 microg/ml) were 2-8-fold lower than those of vancomycin. Telavancin was bacteriostatic, reducing the inoculum by 1-2.5 log(10) after 24 h. No major differences occurred with the different inoculum forms or the REA types. Although telavancin MICs were 2-8 times lower than vancomycin, both demonstrated similar bacteriostatic activity against C. difficile while metronidazole was bactericidal.
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