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Make It Less difficile: Understanding Genetic Evolution and Global Spread of Clostridioides difficile. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122200. [PMID: 36553467 PMCID: PMC9778335 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an obligate anaerobic pathogen among the most common causes of healthcare-associated infections. It poses a global threat due to the clinical outcomes of infection and resistance to antibiotics recommended by international guidelines for its eradication. In particular, C. difficile infection can lead to fulminant colitis associated with shock, hypotension, megacolon, and, in severe cases, death. It is therefore of the utmost urgency to fully characterize this pathogen and better understand its spread, in order to reduce infection rates and improve therapy success. This review aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the genetic variation of C. difficile, with particular regard to pathogenic genes and the correlation with clinical issues of its infection. We also summarize the current typing techniques and, based on them, the global distribution of the most common ribotypes. Finally, we discuss genomic surveillance actions and new genetic engineering strategies as future perspectives to make it less difficile.
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Kullin B, Abratt VR, Reid SJ, Riley TV. Clostridioides difficile infection in Africa: A narrative review. Anaerobe 2022; 74:102549. [PMID: 35337974 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) places a burden on healthcare facilities worldwide. Most research studies have been concentrated in high-income countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, where C. difficile is the leading cause of diarrhoea associated with antimicrobial use. This narrative review summarises African CDI studies, focussing on reports published in the last 20 years. Although relatively sparse, the data suggest that CDI is an important cause of diarrhoea on the continent. African CDI patient populations are often younger than in European and North American settings, probably due to the high prevalence of co-morbid conditions such as tuberculosis, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Strain typing data are rare and where reported generally limited to single sites and institutions. Despite challenges, including a lack of facilities and awareness, there is a need for further investigation to more accurately determine the true burden of disease caused by C. difficile in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Kullin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Valerie R Abratt
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sharon J Reid
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thomas V Riley
- Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia WA, Australia; School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia; Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, WA, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
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Perumalsamy S, Riley TV. Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile Infections in Children. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2021; 10:S34-S40. [PMID: 34791401 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piab057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a prominent cause of health care-related gastrointestinal illness in adults. C. difficile infection (CDI) has been researched for over 40 years; however, research on pediatric CDI specifically has lagged behind for various reasons. Over the past decade, C. difficile has been increasingly reported as a cause of a broad spectrum of gastrointestinal diseases in children, ranging from mild self-limiting diarrhea to severe conditions such as pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. Recent publications have shown a rise in CDI incidence in children in different parts of the world, especially in patients with particular comorbidities such as hematological malignancies and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, rising CDI rates have been reported in children in the community without traditional risk factors for CDI. Due to the extensive use of sensitive molecular detection methods to diagnose CDI in many countries, differentiating children who require treatment from those colonized with toxigenic strains remains a problem. Consequently, the molecular epidemiology of pediatric CDI is poorly understood. Even though well-known C. difficile strains causing CDI in children have been described (including hypervirulent strains such as ribotypes 027 and 078), there is a paucity of information about specific C. difficile strains. This mini-review summarizes the information that is currently available on the molecular epidemiology of CDI in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicilia Perumalsamy
- The University of Western Australia, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas V Riley
- The University of Western Australia, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.,PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
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Mutai WC, Mureithi MW, Anzala O, Revathi G, Kullin B, Burugu M, Kyany'a C, Odoyo E, Otieno P, Musila L. High Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Clostridioides difficile Following Extensive Use of Antimicrobials in Hospitalized Patients in Kenya. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:604986. [PMID: 33628744 PMCID: PMC7897694 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.604986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Clostridioides difficile is a neglected pathogen in many African countries as it is generally not regarded as one of the major contributors toward the diarrheal disease burden in the continent. However, several studies have suggested that C. difficile infection (CDI) may be underreported in many African settings. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CDI in hospitalized patients, evaluate antimicrobial exposure, and detect toxin and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolated C. difficile strains. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 333 hospitalized patients with hospital-onset diarrhoea were selected. The stool samples were collected and cultured on cycloserine-cefoxitin egg yolk agar (CCEY). Isolates were presumptively identified by phenotypic characteristics and Gram stain and confirmed by singleplex real-time PCR (qPCR) assays detecting the species-specific tpi gene, toxin A (tcdA) gene, toxin B (tcdB) gene, and the binary toxin (cdtA/cdtB) genes. Confirmed C. difficile isolates were tested against a panel of eight antimicrobials (vancomycin, metronidazole, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, clindamycin, erythromycin, and ceftriaxone) using E-test strips. Results C. difficile was detected in 57 (25%) of diarrheal patients over the age of two, 56 (98.2%) of whom received antimicrobials before the diarrheal episode. Amongst the 71 confirmed isolates, 69 (97.1%) harbored at least one toxin gene. More than half of the toxigenic isolates harbored a truncated tcdA gene. All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin, while three isolates (2.1%) were resistant to metronidazole (MIC >32 mg/L). High levels of resistance were observed to rifampicin (65/71, 91.5%), erythromycin (63/71, 88.7%), ciprofloxacin (59/71, 83.1%), clindamycin (57/71, 80.3%), and ceftriaxone (36/71, 50.7.8%). Among the resistant isolates, 61 (85.9%) were multidrug-resistant. Conclusion Multidrug-resistant C. difficile strains were a significant cause of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infections in patients with prior antimicrobial exposure in this Kenyan hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie C Mutai
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Marianne W Mureithi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Omu Anzala
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gunturu Revathi
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Microbiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Brian Kullin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Magdaline Burugu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Erick Odoyo
- US Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter Otieno
- US Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lillian Musila
- US Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
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Sholeh M, Krutova M, Forouzesh M, Mironov S, Sadeghifard N, Molaeipour L, Maleki A, Kouhsari E. Antimicrobial resistance in Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile derived from humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2020; 9:158. [PMID: 32977835 PMCID: PMC7517813 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-020-00815-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is an important pathogen of healthcare- associated diarrhea, however, an increase in the occurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI) outside hospital settings has been reported. The accumulation of antimicrobial resistance in C. difficile can increase the risk of CDI development and/or its spread. The limited number of antimicrobials for the treatment of CDI is matter of some concern. Objectives In order to summarize the data on antimicrobial resistance to C. difficile derived from humans, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. Methods We searched five bibliographic databases: (MEDLINE [PubMed], Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science) for studies that focused on antimicrobial susceptibility testing in C. difficile and were published between 1992 and 2019. The weighted pooled resistance (WPR) for each antimicrobial agent was calculated using a random- effects model. Results A total of 111 studies were included. The WPR for metronidazole and vancomycin was 1.0% (95% CI 0–3%) and 1% (95% CI 0–2%) for the breakpoint > 2 mg/L and 0% (95% CI 0%) for breakpoint ≥32 μg/ml. Rifampin and tigecycline had a WPRs of 37.0% (95% CI 18–58%) and 1% (95% CI 0–3%), respectively. The WPRs for the other antimicrobials were as follows: ciprofloxacin 95% (95% CI 85–100%), moxifloxacin 32% (95% CI 25–40%), clindamycin 59% (95% CI 53–65%), amoxicillin/clavulanate 0% (0–0%), piperacillin/tazobactam 0% (0–0%) and ceftriaxone 47% (95% CI 29–65%). Tetracycline had a WPR 20% (95% CI 14–27%) and meropenem showed 0% (95% CI 0–1%); resistance to fidaxomicin was reported in one isolate (0.08%). Conclusion Resistance to metronidazole, vancomycin, fidaxomicin, meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam is reported rarely. From the alternative CDI drug treatments, tigecycline had a lower resistance rate than rifampin. The high-risk antimicrobials for CDI development showed a high level of resistance, the highest was seen in the second generation of fluoroquinolones and clindamycin; amoxicillin/clavulanate showed almost no resistance. Tetracycline resistance was present in one fifth of human clinical C. difficile isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sholeh
- Dept. of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marcela Krutova
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mehdi Forouzesh
- Assistant professor of Legal medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sergey Mironov
- Department of propaedeutics of dental diseases, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Nourkhoda Sadeghifard
- Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Leila Molaeipour
- Dept. of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Maleki
- Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Kouhsari
- Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. .,Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. .,Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
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Odoyo E, Kyanya C, Mutai W, Musila L. High levels of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile contamination of hospital environments: a hidden threat in hospital-acquired infections in Kenya. Access Microbiol 2020; 2:acmi000171. [PMID: 33490867 PMCID: PMC7818243 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The contribution of Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) to the burden of hospital-associated infections (HAIs) remains undetermined in many African countries. Aim This study aimed to identify a sensitive and readily adaptable C. difficile detection assay and to evaluate the C. difficile HAI risk in Kenya. Methodology Sterile swabs in neutralizing buffer were used to sample equipment or surfaces that patients and clinical staff touched frequently. These swabs were either plated directly on chromogenic agar or cultured in an enrichment broth before plating. The swab suspensions, enrichment broth and plate cultures were screened by quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine the most efficient detection method. The HAI risk was evaluated by testing the C. difficile-positive samples by qPCR for the A, B and binary toxins. Results C. difficile was detected on 4/57 (7.0 %) equipment and surfaces by direct culture. The additional enrichment step increased the detection rate 10-fold to 43/57 (75.4 %). In total, 51/57 (89.5 %) environmental samples were positive for C. difficile detected through either culture or qPCR. The genes encoding the primary toxins, tcdA and tcdB, were detected on six surfaces, while the genes encoding the binary toxins, cdtA and cdtB, were detected on 2/57 (3.5 %) and 3/57 (5.3 %) surfaces, respectively. Different C. difficile toxin gene profiles were detected: the tcdA+/tcdB− gene profile on 4/10 (40 %) high-touch surfaces, tcdA−/tcdB+ on 3/10 (30 %) surfaces, tcdA+/tcdB+/cdtA+/cdtB+ on 2/10 (20 %) surfaces and tcdA−/tcdB+/cdtB+ on one high-touch surface. Conclusion The widespread contamination of hospital environments by toxigenic C. difficile gives a strong indication of the high risk of C. difficile infections (CDIs). The two-step culture process described can easily be adapted for monitoring hospital environment contamination by C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Odoyo
- United States Army Medical Research Directorate - Africa, PO Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Cecilia Kyanya
- United States Army Medical Research Directorate - Africa, PO Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Winnie Mutai
- University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lillian Musila
- United States Army Medical Research Directorate - Africa, PO Box 606-00621, Nairobi, Kenya
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High Clostridium difficile Infection among HIV-Infected Children with Diarrhea in a Tertiary Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. Int J Pediatr 2020; 2020:3264923. [PMID: 32908552 PMCID: PMC7474756 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3264923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile causes a million of illnesses each year worldwide and can affect people of all ages. Limited data exist on the prevalence of C. difficile infections (CDI) among children below five years of age in developing countries. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence, associated factors, and outcome of the Clostridium difficile infection among children with diarrhea attending a tertiary hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. Stool samples were collected and cultured anaerobically to isolate Clostridium difficile, followed by C. difficile toxin A and B assay and ribotyping. A total of 301 children with diarrhea were enrolled. A total of 22 (7.31%, 95% CI: 0.89-0.95) nonrepetitive stool samples were positive for Clostridium difficile. Eighteen (81%) of C. difficile isolates were toxigenic, and 16 (72.7%) had unknown ribotypes. Independent predictors of positive C. difficile were as follows: positive HIV status, hospital stay of more than four days, high stool leukocyte count, and watery stool. Clostridium difficile-positive children had significantly higher median duration of the diarrhea than those without C. difficile. Clinicians should consider C. difficile as a possible cause of diarrhea in children living in developing countries and institute appropriate management to prevent associated morbidities and mortalities. Furthermore, there is a need of joint effort to improve C. difficile diagnosis and surveillance in developing countries to establish the unknown epidemiology of CDI in these countries.
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Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridioides difficile detected in chicken, soil and human samples from Zimbabwe. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 96:82-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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Paganini D, Uyoga MA, Kortman GAM, Cercamondi CI, Winkler HC, Boekhorst J, Moretti D, Lacroix C, Karanja S, Zimmermann MB. Iron-containing micronutrient powders modify the effect of oral antibiotics on the infant gut microbiome and increase post-antibiotic diarrhoea risk: a controlled study in Kenya. Gut 2019; 68:645-653. [PMID: 30448776 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2018-317399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many African infants receiving iron fortificants also receive antibiotics. Antibiotic efficacy against enteropathogens may be modified by high colonic iron concentrations. In this study, we evaluated the effect of antibiotics on the infant gut microbiome and diarrhoea when given with or without iron-containing micronutrient powders (MNPs). DESIGN In a controlled intervention trial, four groups of community-dwelling infants (n=28; aged 8-10 months) received either: (A) antibiotics for 5 days and iron-MNPs for 40 days (Fe+Ab+); (B) antibiotics and no-iron-MNPs (Fe-Ab+); (C) no antibiotics and iron-MNPs (Fe+Ab-); or (D) no antibiotics and no-iron-MNPs (Fe-Ab-). We collected a faecal sample before the first antibiotic dose (D0) and after 5, 10, 20 and 40 days (D5-D40) to assess the gut microbiome composition by 16S profiling, enteropathogens by quantitative PCR, faecal calprotectin and pH and assessed morbidity over the 40-day study period. RESULTS In Fe+Ab+, there was a decrease in Bifidobacterium abundances (p<0.05), but no decrease in Fe-Ab+. In Fe-Ab+, there was a decrease in abundances of pathogenic Escherichia coli (p<0.05), but no decrease in Fe+Ab+. In Fe-Ab+, there was a decrease in pH (p<0.05), but no decrease in Fe+Ab+. Longitudinal prevalence of diarrhoea was higher in Fe+Ab+ (19.6%) compared with Fe-Ab+ (12.4%) (p=0.04) and compared with Fe+Ab- (5.2%) (p=0.00). CONCLUSION Our findings need confirmation in a larger study but suggest that, in African infants, iron fortification modifies the response to broad-spectrum antibiotics: iron may reduce their efficacy against potential enteropathogens, particularly pathogenic E. coli, and may increase risk for diarrhoea. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02118402; Pre-results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Paganini
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mary A Uyoga
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Medical Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Colin I Cercamondi
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hans C Winkler
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Diego Moretti
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Lacroix
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Karanja
- Department of Medical Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
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Plants-Paris K, Bishoff D, Oyaro MO, Mwinyi B, Chappell C, Kituyi A, Nyangao J, Mbatha D, Darkoh C. Prevalence of Clostridium difficile infections among Kenyan children with diarrhea. Int J Infect Dis 2019; 81:66-72. [PMID: 30660798 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2019.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diarrhea causes significant morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Regions most affected by diarrhea include Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, where antibiotics are in common use and can make children more vulnerable to Clostridium difficile and pathogens that are not affected by these drugs. Indeed, C. difficile is a major diarrhea-associated pathogen and poses a significant threat to vulnerable and immunocompromised populations. Yet, little is known about the role and epidemiology of C. difficile in diarrhea-associated illness among young children. As a result, C. difficile is often neglected in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa that are most impacted by childhood diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to establish the frequency of C. difficile in young children (<5 years) with diarrhea. METHODS Children presenting with diarrhea at a national hospital in Kenya from 2015 to 2018 were enrolled consecutively. Following informed consent by a parent or legal guardian, stool samples were obtained from the children and demographic data were collected. The stools were examined for the presence of four common pathogens known to cause diarrhea: C. difficile, rotavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia lamblia. C. difficile was verified by toxigenic culture and PCR. The presence of C. parvum and/or G. lamblia was determined using the ImmunoCard STAT! Crypto/Giardia Rapid assay. Rotavirus was detected by ELISA. RESULTS The study population comprised 157 children; 62.4% were male and 37.6% were female and their average age was 12.4 months. Of the 157 stool specimens investigated, 37.6% were positive for C. difficile, 33.8% for rotavirus, 5.1% for Cryptosporidium, and 5.1% for Giardia. PCR analysis identified at least one of the C. difficile-specific - genes (tcdA, tcdB, or tcdC). Further, 57.6% of the stools had C. difficile colonies bearing a frame-shift deletion in the tcdC gene, a mutation associated with increased toxin production. The frequency of C. difficile was 32.6% in children ≤12 months old and increased to 46.6% in children 12-24 months old. CONCLUSIONS In Kenyan children presenting with diarrhea, C. difficile is more prevalent than rotavirus or Cryptosporidium, two leading causes of childhood diarrhea. These findings underscore the need to better understand the role of C. difficile in children with diarrhea, especially in areas with antibiotic overuse. Understanding C. difficile epidemiology and its relationship to co-infecting pathogens among African children with diarrhea will help in devising ways of reducing diarrhea-associated illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Plants-Paris
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dayna Bishoff
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Micah O Oyaro
- University of Nairobi, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Cynthia Chappell
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - James Nyangao
- Centre for Viral Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Charles Darkoh
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Program, Houston, TX, USA.
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Seugendo M, Janssen I, Lang V, Hasibuan I, Bohne W, Cooper P, Daniel R, Gunka K, Kusumawati RL, Mshana SE, von Müller L, Okamo B, Ortlepp JR, Overmann J, Riedel T, Rupnik M, Zimmermann O, Groß U. Prevalence and Strain Characterization of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile in Representative Regions of Germany, Ghana, Tanzania and Indonesia - A Comparative Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1843. [PMID: 30131799 PMCID: PMC6090210 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infections (CDI) are considered worldwide as emerging health threat. Uptake of C. difficile spores may result in asymptomatic carrier status or lead to CDI that could range from mild diarrhea, eventually developing into pseudomembranous colitis up to a toxic megacolon that often results in high mortality. Most epidemiological studies to date have been performed in middle- and high income countries. Beside others, the use of antibiotics and the composition of the microbiome have been identified as major risk factors for the development of CDI. We therefore postulate that prevalence rates of CDI and the distribution of C. difficile strains differ between geographical regions depending on the regional use of antibiotics and food habits. A total of 593 healthy control individuals and 608 patients suffering from diarrhea in communities in Germany, Ghana, Tanzania and Indonesia were selected for a comparative multi-center cross-sectional study. The study populations were screened for the presence of C. difficile in stool samples. Cultured C. difficile strains (n = 84) were further subtyped and characterized using PCR-ribotyping, determination of toxin production, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Prevalence rates of C. difficile varied widely between the countries. Whereas high prevalence rates were observed in symptomatic patients living in Germany and Indonesia (24.0 and 14.7%), patients from Ghana and Tanzania showed low detection rates (4.5 and 6.4%). Differences were also obvious for ribotype distribution and toxin repertoires. Toxin A+/B+ ribotypes 001/072 and 078 predominated in Germany, whereas most strains isolated from Indonesian patients belonged to toxin A+/B+ ribotype SLO160 and toxin A-/B+ ribotype 017. With 42.9–73.3%, non-toxigenic strains were most abundant in Africa, but were also found in Indonesia at a rate of 18.2%. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole. Mirroring the antibiotic use, however, moxifloxacin resistance was absent in African C. difficile isolates but present in Indonesian (24.2%) and German ones (65.5%). This study showed that CDI is a global health threat with geographically different prevalence rates which might reflect distinct use of antibiotics. Significant differences for distributions of ribotypes, toxin production, and antibiotic susceptibilities were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mwanaisha Seugendo
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Iryna Janssen
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Lang
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | - Irene Hasibuan
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Bohne
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katrin Gunka
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | - R L Kusumawati
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Stephen E Mshana
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Lutz von Müller
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Benard Okamo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | | | - Jörg Overmann
- Department Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Riedel
- Department Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maja Rupnik
- Institute of Public Health Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Ortrud Zimmermann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany
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Oyaro MO, Plants-Paris K, Bishoff D, Malonza P, Gontier CS, DuPont HL, Darkoh C. High rate of Clostridium difficile among young adults presenting with diarrhea at two hospitals in Kenya. Int J Infect Dis 2018; 74:24-28. [PMID: 29960098 PMCID: PMC6152928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea worldwide. As a result, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have designated C. difficile as an urgent threat. Despite the global public health risk posed by CDI, little is known about its epidemiology on the African continent. This article describes the common occurrence of CDI from a cross-section of consecutively seen, randomly enrolled patients presenting with diarrhea at two major hospitals in Kenya. Methods: Patients presenting with diarrhea at two major hospitals in Kenya from May to July 2017 were enrolled. After signing the informed consent, stool samples, demographic data, medical history, prior antibiotic use, and HIV status were obtained from the patients. C. difficile was detected and validated by toxigenic culture and PCR. Results: The average age of the patients was 35.5 years (range 3–86 years); 59% were male and 41% were female. Out of 105 patient s tools tested, 98 (93.3%) were positive for C. difficile by culture. PCR analysis confirmed C. Difficile-specific genes, tcdA, tcdB, and tcdC, in the strains isolated from the stools. Further, 82.5% of the stools had C. difficile isolates bearing the frame-shift delection associated with hypervirulent strains. Remarkably, 91.9% of the stools that tested positive for C. difficile came from patients under 60 years old, with 64.3% being less than 40 years of age.The majorityof the patients (85%) reported over-the-counter antibiotic use in the last 30 days before the hospital visit. Conclusions: Together, the results revealed an unusually high incidence of C. difficile in the stools analyzed, especially among young adults who are thought to be less vulnerable. Comprehensive research is urgently needed to examine the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, comorbidities, clinical outcomes, antibiotic susceptibility, and genetic makeup of C. difficile strains circulating on the African continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah O Oyaro
- University of Nairobi, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kimberly Plants-Paris
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dayna Bishoff
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul Malonza
- University of Nairobi, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Christopher S Gontier
- University of Nairobi, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Herbert L DuPont
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Program, Houston, TX, USA; University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Charles Darkoh
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Program, Houston, TX, USA.
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13
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Antibiotic Resistances of Clostridium difficile. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1050:137-159. [PMID: 29383668 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-72799-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance in Clostridium difficile and the consequent effects on prevention and treatment of C. difficile infections (CDIs) are matter of concern for public health. Antibiotic resistance plays an important role in driving C. difficile epidemiology. Emergence of new types is often associated with the emergence of new resistances and most of epidemic C. difficile clinical isolates is currently resistant to multiple antibiotics. In particular, it is to worth to note the recent identification of strains with reduced susceptibility to the first-line antibiotics for CDI treatment and/or for relapsing infections. Antibiotic resistance in C. difficile has a multifactorial nature. Acquisition of genetic elements and alterations of the antibiotic target sites, as well as other factors, such as variations in the metabolic pathways and biofilm production, contribute to the survival of this pathogen in the presence of antibiotics. Different transfer mechanisms facilitate the spread of mobile elements among C. difficile strains and between C. difficile and other species. Furthermore, recent data indicate that both genetic elements and alterations in the antibiotic targets can be maintained in C. difficile regardless of the burden imposed on fitness, and therefore resistances may persist in C. difficile population in absence of antibiotic selective pressure.
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14
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The review examines the changing causes and the investigation of infectious and noninfectious diarrhoea in individuals with HIV. RECENT FINDINGS Despite the excellent prognosis conferred by combination antiretroviral therapy, diarrhoea is still common in HIV-positive individuals and is associated with reduced quality of life and survival. There is increasing interest in the importance of Th17 and Th22 T cells in the maintenance of mucosal immunity within the gut, and in the role of the gut microbiome in gut homeostasis. Bacterial causes of HIV-associated diarrhoea continue to be important in resource-poor settings. In other settings, sexually transmitted enteric infections such as lymphogranuloma venereum and shigellosis are increasingly reported in men who have sex with men. HIV increases the risk of such infections and the presence of antimicrobial resistance. Parasitic causes of diarrhoea are more common in individuals with uncontrolled HIV and low CD4 counts. Noninfectious causes of diarrhoea include all classes of antiretroviral therapy, which is under-recognised as a cause of poor treatment adherence. Pancreatic dysfunction is remediable and the diagnostic workup of HIV-related diarrhoea should include faecal elastase measurements. New antimotility agents such as crofelemer may be useful in managing secretory diarrhoea symptoms. SUMMARY Clinicians looking after patients with HIV should ask about diarrhoeal symptoms, which are under-reported and may have a remediable infectious or noninfectious cause.
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Janssen I, Cooper P, Gunka K, Rupnik M, Wetzel D, Zimmermann O, Groß U. High prevalence of nontoxigenic Clostridium difficile isolated from hospitalized and non-hospitalized individuals in rural Ghana. Int J Med Microbiol 2016; 306:652-656. [PMID: 27693000 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since data about Clostridium difficile infection in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce, we determined its epidemiology and risk factors in a cross-sectional study in Eikwe, a rural community in Ghana. We tested stool samples from 176 hospitalized patients with diarrhoea and from 131 asymptomatic non-hospitalized individuals for C. difficile and some other enteric pathogens. The overall prevalence rate of C. difficile was 4.9% with ribotype 084 being predominant. With 75% of the isolates, a high rate of nontoxigenic strains was present in symptomatic patients, most of whom had no other identified enteric pathogens. All strains were susceptible against metronidazole and vancomycin, respectively. Data on lifestyle and medical history showed that age <5years (p=0.004), and use of ceftriaxone (p=0.023) were the most important risk factors for C. difficile carriage status. Although our data suggest that C. difficile is currently not a major cause of diarrhoea in this setting, the epidemiology of C. difficile in sub-Saharan Africa awaits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Janssen
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Kreuzbergring 57, D37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul Cooper
- St. Martin de Porres Hospital, Eikwe, W/R, Ghana
| | - Katrin Gunka
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Kreuzbergring 57, D37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maja Rupnik
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine, Taborska 8, SVN2000 Maribor, Slovenia; National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food (NLZOH), Prvomajska 1, SVN 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Daniela Wetzel
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Kreuzbergring 57, D37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ortrud Zimmermann
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Kreuzbergring 57, D37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Kreuzbergring 57, D37075 Göttingen, Germany; Göttingen International Health Network, Göttingen, Germany.
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