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Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Gut community alterations associated with Clostridioides difficile colonization in hospitalized gastroenterological
Aleksander Mahnic1, Spela Pintar2,3, Pavel Skok3,4
1National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Department for Microbiological Research, Maribor, Slovenia.
Abstract:
Clostridioides difficile colonization and development of infection commonly occur in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and can trigger flare-ups. Both conditions are inherently linked to disrupted gut microbiota. This study included 149 hospitalized gastrointestinal patients, which were divided into IBD (n = 48) and non-IBD patients (n = 101). Patients were tested for C. difficile colonization (qPCR and selective plating), and gut bacterial communities were analyzed with 16S amplicon sequencing. Blood test results were retrospectively collected from the medical records. IBD and non-IBD patients had comparable C. difficile colonization rates (31.7 and 33.3%, respectively). Compared to non-IBD C. difficile-non-colonized patients, IBD and C. difficile-colonized patients shared multiple common bacterial community characteristics including decreased diversity and reduced abundance of strict anaerobic bacteria. Furthermore, certain microbiota alterations were enhanced when IBD was accompanied by C. difficile colonization, indicating a synergistic effect between both medical complications. Conversely, certain microbial patterns were specific to C. difficile colonization, e.g., co-occurrence with Enterococcus, which was most common in IBD patients (81.3%).
Insights
Clostridioides difficile colonization impacts inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients similarly to others, but exacerbates gut microbiota disruptions. This synergistic effect highlights unique microbial patterns in IBD patients with C. difficile.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Clostridioides difficile colonization and infection are prevalent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, often triggering disease flares.
- Both IBD and C. difficile are associated with significant disruptions in the gut microbiota.
- Understanding the interplay between IBD, C. difficile, and the gut microbiome is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of C. difficile colonization in hospitalized IBD and non-IBD patients.
- To compare the gut bacterial communities of IBD and non-IBD patients with and without C. difficile colonization.
- To identify specific microbial alterations associated with the co-occurrence of IBD and C. difficile.
Main Methods:
- 149 hospitalized gastrointestinal patients were divided into IBD (n=48) and non-IBD (n=101) groups.
- C. difficile colonization was assessed using qPCR and selective plating.
- Gut bacterial communities were analyzed via 16S amplicon sequencing; blood test results were collected retrospectively.
Main Results:
- Colonization rates of C. difficile were comparable between IBD (31.7%) and non-IBD (33.3%) patients.
- IBD patients with C. difficile colonization exhibited decreased bacterial diversity and reduced anaerobic bacteria, similar to non-IBD colonized patients.
- A synergistic effect was observed, with enhanced microbiota alterations in IBD patients co-colonized with C. difficile. Specific patterns, like Enterococcus co-occurrence (81.3%), were noted in IBD patients.
Conclusions:
- C. difficile colonization rates are similar in IBD and non-IBD patients, but it significantly impacts the gut microbiome in IBD.
- A synergistic relationship exists between IBD and C. difficile colonization, leading to distinct microbial community structures.
- Identifying specific microbial signatures, such as Enterococcus co-occurrence, may aid in understanding and managing C. difficile in IBD patients.
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