Clostridioides difficile Resistance Mechanisms and Susceptibility Testing: An Update
This review summarises phenotypic and genotypic resistance mechanisms in C. difficile, including mobile genetic element-mediated gene acquisition, in vivo mutations, altered redox protein expression, and biofilm formation. Susceptibility testing methods for metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomicin are discussed alongside emerging strategies to counter resistance in this critical healthcare pathogen.
The original study
Update on Antimicrobial Resistance in Clostridium difficile: Resistance Mechanisms and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing.
- Authors
- Peng Z, Jin D, Kim HB, Stratton CW, Wu B, Tang YW, et al.
- Journal
- Journal of clinical microbiology
- Type
- Journal Article, Review
- PMID
- 28404671
Original abstract
Oral antibiotics such as metronidazole, vancomycin and fidaxomicin are therapies of choice for Clostridium difficile infection. Several important mechanisms for C. difficile antibiotic resistance have been described, including the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes via the transfer of mobile genetic elements, selective pressure in vivo resulting in gene mutations, altered expression of redox-active proteins, iron metabolism, and DNA repair, as well as via biofilm formation. This update summarizes new information published since 2010 on phenotypic and genotypic resistance mechanisms in C. difficile and addresses susceptibility test methods and other strategies to counter antibiotic resistance of C. difficile.