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Clostridioides difficile

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Clostridioides difficile
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Despite increasing incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection, there has been little international focus on the importance of this Gram-positive microorganism in infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance. Microbial evolution occurs in response to natural and artificial stressors; and C. difficile is no exception. The organism is fascinating in its ability to survive harsh environments, produce spores and resist the effects of antibiotic treatment.

The role of C. difficile in infection is complex and there is a need to review current knowledge and standardise research methods. The Journal of Medical Microbiology is therefore pleased to announce the launch of a new C. difficile collection which brings together and showcases the latest international research developments in the area. Topics within this collection range from C. difficile interaction with host microbiota to One Health, CDI rodent models, disinfection, testing and detection from leading C. difficile researchers, forming a comprehensive and diverse collection.
The collection is also open for new submissions from all researchers working in the area.

Editors: Tina Joshi, Steve Michell
Guest Editors: Fidelma Fitzpatrick, John Heritage, Ed Kuijper
Status: Open for submissions
Deadline for submissions: 20 December 2024

Journals submission links:

Collection Contents

3 results

    • The state of play of rodent models for the study of infection

      is the most common cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and is responsible for a spectrum of diseases characterized by high levels of recurrence and morbidity. In some cases, complications can lead to death. Currently, several types of animal models have been developed to study various aspects of infection (CDI), such as colonization, virulence, transmission and recurrence. These models have also been used to test the role of environmental conditions, such as diet, age and microbiome that modulate infection outcome, and to evaluate several therapeutic strategies. Different rodent models have been used successfully, such as the hamster model and the gnotobiotic and conventional mouse models. These models can be applied to study either the initial CDI infectious process or recurrences. The applications of existing rodent models and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed here.

    • detection and infection in children: are they just small adults?

      is a well-recognized healthcare-associated pathogen, with its significance widely recognized in adult populations. Despite this, there is limited data on the significance of detection within paediatric populations, both for individual patient management and wider transmission risk-based considerations. High rates of colonization are understood to occur in infants, with increasing levels up to 11 months, and colonization rates similar to adults by 8 years old. Sources of are ubiquitous, with detection in companion animals and food sources, as well as within the clinical and wider environment. Due to the close interactions that occur between children and the environment, it is understandable that increasing recognition is afforded to the community acquisition of in children. Other risk factors for the detection of in children are similar to those observed in adults, including prior hospitalization and underlying conditions affecting gut health and motility. Recent studies have shown rising awareness of the role of asymptomatic carriage of in healthcare transmission. Prior to this, paediatric patient populations were less likely to be screened due to uncertainty regarding the significance of detection; however, this increased awareness has led to a review of possible carriage testing pathways. Despite this increased attention, infection remains poorly defined in paediatric populations, with limited dedicated paediatric data sets making comparison challenging. This is further complicated by the fact that infection in children frequently self resolves without additional therapies. Due to this, remains a management challenge in paediatric settings.

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