Clostridium Difficile Infection for Pseudomembranous Colitis

Question: Discuss about theClostridium Difficile Infection for Pseudomembranous Colitis. Answer: A burdensome problem that has created a plague in the medical field is Clostridium difficileinfection (CDI). This gram positive bacteria in anaerobic in nature and is spore forming. CDI can be cured via the application of intravenous or oral antibiotics. However, recent years has seen the development of more virulent bacterial strains of C.difficile which are drug resistant in nature leading to the generation of recurrent infection (Cole and Stahl 2015). CDI is the leading cause behind antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). It is also responsible for recurrent urinary tract infection and respiratory infection. Transmission of the bacteria mostly takes place via fecal route or orally. C.difficile spores are difficult to kill and are abundant in contaminates surface of the hospitals. Increase rate of application of antibiotics for the treatment of C.difficile infection may make the patient more susceptible towards the infection of other bacteria. The anti-microbial treatment affects the gut microbiota and makes the patient immune depressant thereby increasing the chances of recurrent bacterial infection (Cole and Stahl 2015). The incidence of CDI has surpassed the rates of methicillin-resistantS. aureusinfections. This increased prevalence of CDI has led to corresponding increase in mortality and morbidity. This has coincided with the emergence of a rare strain, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotype 027 or North American Pulse-field type 1 (NAP1). Studies have given the evidence of the presence of ribotype 027 strains during the outbreak of CDI. Such incidences are characterized by increased severity and a greater risk of relapse. Recently, it was reported that additional strains also cause CDI with poor outcomes. The burden of CDI causes a significant financial crisis on the healthcare domain (DePestel and Aronoff 2013). References Cole, S.A. and Stahl, T.J., 2015. Persistent and Recurrent Clostridium difficile Colitis.Clinics in colon and rectal surgery,28(02), pp.065-069. DePestel, D.D. and Aronoff, D.M., 2013. Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection.Journal of pharmacy practice,26(5), pp.464-475.