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Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Gut Microbial and Metabolic Features Associated With Clostridioides difficile Infection Recurrence in Children
Xiaolu Li1, Fangfei Xiao1, Xufei Wang1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in children is linked to gut microbial and metabolic changes. Lower microbial diversity and altered bile acids in the gut may predict CDI recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Metabolomics
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) presents a significant clinical challenge due to rising incidence and treatment difficulties.
- Identifying factors associated with CDI recurrence is crucial for effective management in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gut microbial and metabolic profiles associated with disease recurrence in pediatric CDI patients.
- To explore potential biomarkers for predicting CDI recurrence in children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of 84 children with primary CDI.
- Analysis of fecal samples using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted metabolomics.
- Profiling bacterial composition and metabolome at initial diagnosis.
Main Results:
- 31% of pediatric CDI patients experienced recurrence.
- Recurrent CDI cases showed significantly lower gut microbial alpha diversity and distinct beta diversity.
- Reduced abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and decreased fecal SCFA levels were observed in recurrent cases.
- Lower levels of specific bile acids, including lithocholic acid (LCA), were noted in recurrent patients.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota alterations, including reduced SCFA production and modified bile acid profiles, may contribute to pediatric CDI recurrence.
- Microbial and metabolite signatures hold potential for predicting CDI recurrence in children.
Background:
Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a critical clinical issue due to the increase in incidence and difficulty in treatment. We aimed to identify gut microbial and metabolic features associated with disease recurrence in a group of pediatric CDI patients.
Methods:
A total of 84 children with primary CDI were prospectively enrolled in the study. Fecal samples collected at the initial diagnosis were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted metabolomics analysis to profile the bacterial composition and metabolome.
Results:
Twenty-six of 84 (31.0%) pediatric CDI patients experienced recurrence. The alpha diversity of the fecal microbiota was significantly lower in the recurrent group than in the nonrecurrent group, and the beta diversity was different from that of the nonrecurrent group. Taxonomic profiles revealed that the relative abundances of multiple bacterial taxa significantly differed between the recurrent and nonrecurrent groups. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis identified several bacterial genera that discriminated between recurrent and nonrecurrent groups, including Parabacteroides, Coprococcus, Dialister, and Clostridium. Recurrent bacteria presented lower abundances of several short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (Faecalibacterium, Butyricicoccus, Clostridium, Roseburia, and Ruminococcus), which were correlated with reduced fecal SCFA levels. In addition, several bile acids, including lithocholic acid (LCA), 12-ketoLCA, trihydroxycholestanoic acid, and deoxycholic acid, were decreased in recurrent patients.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that the differing gut microbiota profiles in pediatric CDI patients may contribute to disease recurrence by modulating SCFA concentrations and bile acid profiles. The gut microbiota and metabolite signatures may be used to predict disease recurrence in children with CDI.
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