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<i>Clostridioides difficile</i>, a New “Superbug”
oleh: Rumyana Markovska, Georgi Dimitrov, Raina Gergova, Lyudmila Boyanova
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2023-03-01 |
Deskripsi
<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium. The clinical features of <i>C. difficile</i> infections (CDIs) can vary, ranging from the asymptomatic carriage and mild self-limiting diarrhoea to severe and sometimes fatal pseudomembranous colitis. <i>C. difficile</i> infections (CDIs) are associated with disruption of the gut microbiota caused by antimicrobial agents. The infections are predominantly hospital-acquired, but in the last decades, the CDI patterns have changed. Their prevalence increased, and the proportion of community-acquired CDIs has also increased. This can be associated with the appearance of hypervirulent epidemic isolates of ribotype 027. The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated antibiotic overuse could additionally change the patterns of infections. Treatment of CDIs is a challenge, with only three appropriate antibiotics for use. The wide distribution of <i>C. difficile</i> spores in hospital environments, chronic persistence in some individuals, especially children, and the recent detection of <i>C. difficile</i> in domestic pets can furthermore worsen the situation. “Superbugs” are microorganisms that are both highly virulent and resistant to antibiotics. The aim of this review article is to characterise <i>C. difficile</i> as a new member of the “superbug” family. Due to its worldwide spread, the lack of many treatment options and the high rates of both recurrence and mortality, <i>C. difficile</i> has emerged as a major concern for the healthcare system.