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Microorganisms
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Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile
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Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 8367

Special Issue Editor

Dr. George Broukhanski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Public Health Ontario Laboratories, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
Interests: microbiology; molecular diagnostics; epidemiology; genotyping

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A disease caused by Clostridioides difficile often follows the treatment of other bacterial infections with antibiotics. Its clinical manifestations range from diarrhea to life-threatening damage to the colon. Discovered 90 years ago, it was not recognized as a major threat to patients until 1978 when outbreaks caused by a strain possessing a range of pathogenic factors (known as NAP1/027) were registered first in North America and then globally. Multiple studies on the molecular epidemiology of this pathogen were performed to identify transmission routes and genetic features responsible for transmission, the severity of the disease, and the frequency of recurrences. Knowledge acquired in these studies did allow for controlling outbreaks but strains carrying various pathogenicity factors are still causing disease in hospitals and communities all over the world.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present what is currently known about this pathogen: ways of transmission, persistence in patients and in the environment, the prevalence of specific strains in geographic regions, and the role played by genetic factors complicating its elimination.

As the Guest Editor of this Special Issue, I invite you to submit research articles, reviews, and short communications related to the molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile.

Dr. George Broukhanski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Clostridioides difficile
  • molecular epidemiology
  • outbreaks
  • pathogenicity
  • infection control

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1943 KiB  
Article
Genomic Analysis of Clostridioides difficile Recovered from Horses in Western Australia
by Natasza M. R. Hain-Saunders, Daniel R. Knight, Mieghan Bruce, David Byrne and Thomas V. Riley
Microorganisms 2023, 11(7), 1743; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071743 - 03 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1442
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile poses an ongoing threat as a cause of gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. Traditionally considered a human healthcare-related disease, increases in community-associated C. difficile infection (CDI) and growing evidence of inter-species transmission suggest a wider perspective is required for CDI [...] Read more.
Clostridioides difficile poses an ongoing threat as a cause of gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals. Traditionally considered a human healthcare-related disease, increases in community-associated C. difficile infection (CDI) and growing evidence of inter-species transmission suggest a wider perspective is required for CDI control. In horses, C. difficile is a major cause of diarrhoea and life-threatening colitis. This study aimed to better understand the epidemiology of CDI in Australian horses and provide insights into the relationships between horse, human and environmental strains. A total of 752 faecal samples from 387 Western Australian horses were collected. C. difficile was isolated from 104 (30.9%) horses without gastrointestinal signs and 19 (37.8%) with gastrointestinal signs. Of these, 68 (55.3%) harboured one or more toxigenic strains, including C. difficile PCR ribotypes (RTs) 012 (n = 14), 014/020 (n = 10) and 087 (n = 7), all prominent in human infection. Whole-genome analysis of 45 strains identified a phylogenetic cluster of 10 closely related C. difficile RT 012 strains of equine, human and environmental origin (0–62 SNP differences; average 23), indicating recent shared ancestry. Evidence of possible clonal inter-species transmission or common-source exposure was identified for a subgroup of three horse and one human isolates, highlighting the need for a One Health approach to C. difficile surveillance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile)
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18 pages, 803 KiB  
Article
Clostridioides difficile, a New “Superbug”
by Rumyana Markovska, Georgi Dimitrov, Raina Gergova and Lyudmila Boyanova
Microorganisms 2023, 11(4), 845; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11040845 - 26 Mar 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3690
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium. The clinical features of C. difficile infections (CDIs) can vary, ranging from the asymptomatic carriage and mild self-limiting diarrhoea to severe and sometimes fatal pseudomembranous colitis. C. difficile infections (CDIs) are associated with disruption of [...] Read more.
Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium. The clinical features of C. difficile infections (CDIs) can vary, ranging from the asymptomatic carriage and mild self-limiting diarrhoea to severe and sometimes fatal pseudomembranous colitis. C. difficile 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 C. difficile spores in hospital environments, chronic persistence in some individuals, especially children, and the recent detection of C. difficile 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 C. difficile 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, C. difficile has emerged as a major concern for the healthcare system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile)
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Review

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16 pages, 872 KiB  
Review
Reviewing the Clostridioides difficile Mouse Model: Insights into Infection Mechanisms
by José L. Fachi, Marco A. R. Vinolo and Marco Colonna
Microorganisms 2024, 12(2), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020273 - 27 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1126
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium associated with intestinal infection, manifesting a broad spectrum of gastrointestinal symptoms, ranging from mild diarrhea to severe colitis. A primary risk factor for the development of C. difficile infection (CDI) is antibiotic exposure. Elderly and immunocompromised [...] Read more.
Clostridioides difficile is an anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium associated with intestinal infection, manifesting a broad spectrum of gastrointestinal symptoms, ranging from mild diarrhea to severe colitis. A primary risk factor for the development of C. difficile infection (CDI) is antibiotic exposure. Elderly and immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable to CDI. A pivotal aspect for comprehending the complexities of this infection relies on the utilization of experimental models that mimic human CDI transmission, pathogenesis, and progression. These models offer invaluable insights into host–pathogen interactions and disease dynamics, and serve as essential tools for testing potential therapeutic approaches. In this review, we examine the animal model for CDI and delineate the stages of infection, with a specific focus on mice. Our objective is to offer an updated description of experimental models employed in the study of CDI, emphasizing both their strengths and limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile)
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24 pages, 755 KiB  
Review
Update on Commonly Used Molecular Typing Methods for Clostridioides difficile
by Ana Abad-Fau, Eloísa Sevilla, Inmaculada Martín-Burriel, Bernardino Moreno and Rosa Bolea
Microorganisms 2023, 11(7), 1752; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071752 - 05 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1462
Abstract
This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the significant Clostridioides difficile molecular typing techniques currently employed in research and medical communities. The main objectives of this review are to describe the key molecular typing methods utilized in C. difficile studies and [...] Read more.
This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the significant Clostridioides difficile molecular typing techniques currently employed in research and medical communities. The main objectives of this review are to describe the key molecular typing methods utilized in C. difficile studies and to highlight the epidemiological characteristics of the most prevalent strains on a global scale. Geographically distinct regions exhibit distinct strain types of C. difficile, with notable concordance observed among various typing methodologies. The advantages that next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers has changed epidemiology research, enabling high-resolution genomic analyses of this pathogen. NGS platforms offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the genetic intricacies and evolutionary trajectories of C. difficile strains. It is relevant to acknowledge that novel routes of transmission are continually being unveiled and warrant further investigation, particularly in the context of zoonotic implications and environmental contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile)
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