A study looked at the escalating issue of antibiotic resistance in Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), which poses a significant challenge for public health, especially in the prevention and treatment of C. difficile infections (CDIs). Researchers noted that most epidemic clinical isolates of C. difficile now exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics, resulting from various factors. These factors include the acquisition of genetic elements and alterations in antibiotic target sites, as well as other aspects like changes in metabolic pathways or biofilm production, which help C. difficile survive in the presence of antibiotics. The spread of resistance is facilitated by different transfer mechanisms that allow the sharing of mobile genetic elements among C. difficile strains and between C. difficile and other species. Data suggests that C. difficile can maintain both genetic elements and alterations in antibiotic targets without a significant fitness burden, meaning that resistance can persist in the C. difficile population even without the selective pressure of antibiotics. This underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and novel strategies in combating CDI.
Reference: Spigaglia P, Mastrantonio P, Barbanti F. Antibiotic Resistances of Clostridioides difficile. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024;1435:169-198. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-42108-2_9. PMID: 38175476.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38175476/
