Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea in the US, with high morbidity and mortality rates posing a significant public health challenge. CDI often recurs, partly due to antibiotic treatments that disrupt gut flora, creating a favorable environment for the bacterium. The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains further complicates treatment, placing CDI among the top antibiotic resistance threats. This review summarizes diagnostic tools and antibiotic treatments. emphasizing the need for understanding antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and exploring emerging therapies like monoclonal antibodies and live biotherapeutic products.
CDI typically results from shifts in colonic microbial flora following antibiotic exposure, allowing toxin-producing strains to proliferate. Diagnostic methods include toxigenic culture, nucleic acid amplification testing, and enzyme immunoassays. Current treatments involve metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomicin, with new approaches such as fecal microbiota transplantation and monoclonal antibodies showing promise. Effective management of CDI requires ongoing surveillance, antibiotic stewardship, and research into resistance mechanisms and new therapies.
Reference: Markantonis JE, Fallon JT, Madan R, et al. Clostridioides difficile Infection: Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges. Pathogens. 2024 Jan 27;13(2):118. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13020118. PMID: 38392856; PMCID: PMC10891949.
