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Clin Ter 2019 Jan-Feb;170(1):e41-e47

Section of Microbiology, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine (DIM), School of Medicine, University of Bari " Aldo Moro", Bari - UOC Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico of Bari, Bari.

Clostridium difficile causes antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis. The main virulence factors of C. difficile are the toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB). Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Internal Medicine C, Sheba Medical Center, Israel; Sackler school of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Objectives: The role of asymptomatic carriers in CDI epidemiology is not fully understood. Our aim was to evaluate CD carriage prevalence on admission, associated risk factors and the risk to develop CDI.

Methods: A ten-week surveillance program for CD carriage of all medical patients admitted to the Sheba Medical Center was implemented, utilizing admission rectal swab PCR (Xpert C. Read More

J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Dept of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Objectives: Clostridium difficile is the main causative agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) and pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). The accumulation of antimicrobial resistance in C. difficile strains can drive Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) epidemiology. Read More

Iran J Microbiol 2018 Oct;10(5):287-293

Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

Background And Objectives: is responsible for 15-25% of nosocomial antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) cases and all cases of pseudomembranous colitis. has two major virulence factors, toxin A (enterotoxin) and toxin B (cytotoxin). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of strains in patients with diarrhea in Babol' hospitals with toxigenic culture and PCR assay. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(3):e14150

Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine.

Rationale: Dapagliflozin (a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 [SGLT2] inhibitor) represents the most recently approved class of oral medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Dapagliflozin lowers plasma glucose concentration by inhibiting the renal reuptake of glucose in the proximal renal tubules. In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration released a warning concerning a potential increased risk of ketoacidosis in patients taking this medication. Read More

Acute Med Surg 2019 Jan 24;6(1):78-82. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine National Defense Medical College Saitama Japan.

Case: We describe a rare case of antibiotic-associated fulminant pseudomembranous enterocolitis caused by . A 79-year-old man with a history of antibiotic therapy was admitted to our emergency department, complaining of consciousness disturbance. Initially, we suspected septic shock and diabetic ketoacidosis caused by intestinal infection. Read More

Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2018 Oct 11;204:52-58. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Aims: To assess the production level of interleukin (IL)-10 inClostridium perfringens (CP)-stimulated intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and CP-infected chickens using an antigen capture ELISA developed by mouse monoclonal antibodies against chicken IL-10. Also, to investigate which CP toxins induced IL-10 in chicken IECs stimulated with CP.

Methods And Results: Chicken IECs were stimulated with CP toxin in the absence or presence of antibodies (α-toxin or NetB) for 18 h. Read More

FASEB J 2018 Dec 28:fj201801440R. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; and.

Clostridium difficile is associated with antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis in humans. Its 2 major toxins, toxins A and B, enter host cells and inactivate GTPases of the Ras homologue/rat sarcoma family by glucosylation. Pore formation of the toxins in the endosomal membrane enables the translocation of their glucosyltransferase domain into the cytosol, and membrane cholesterol is crucial for this process. Read More

Soins Gerontol 2018 Jul - Aug;23(132):15-16

Service de médecine gériatrique, Hupifo, site Ambroise-Paré (AP-HP), 9 avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France.

In view of its high frequency and its consequences which can be dramatic for patients, it is necessary to know how to identify Clostridium difficile infection. The high risk of an epidemic means it is especially important to know how to treat it, in terms of the hygiene and isolation rules, as well as which medication to use. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 11 19;9(1):4846. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium.

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of pseudomembranous colitis in hospitalized patients. C. difficile enterotoxins TcdA and TcdB promote this inflammatory condition via a cytotoxic response on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Read More

Am J Med Sci 2018 Nov 5;356(5):424-432. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Infectious Diseases, Birmingham, Alabama. Electronic address:

The use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was first described in China in the 4th century by Ge Hong when "yellow soup," a fecal slurry, was administered for the treatment of severe food poisoning and diarrhea, a practice that continued for centuries. Bedouin groups also consumed stools of their camels as a remedy for dysentery. FMT was also applied in veterinary medicine in Europe in the 16th century. Read More

Biomol NMR Assign 2018 Oct 28. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA.

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive, toxin-producing, anaerobic bacterium whose virulence factors and mechanisms of pathogenesis require further investigation. C. difficile infections (CDI) result in the severe and potentially fatal gastrointestinal diseases pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon following extensive broad spectrum antibiotic treatment. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2019 Jan 22;14(1):75-78. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.

Neurotoxicity is a rare side effect of metronidazole therapy. Shown here are findings of metronidazole toxicity in a patient, who received chronic metronidazole as prophylaxis for pseudomembranous colitis following bowel resection as an infant. Findings depicted include increased T2 signal in the dentate nuclei and brainstem. Read More

World J Emerg Surg 2018 15;13:47. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

2Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, 17666 United Arab Emirates.

The use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) by non-radiologists has dramatically increased. POCUS is completely different from the routine radiological studies. POCUS is a Physiological, On spot, extension of the Clinical examination, that is Unique, and Safe. Read More

BMC Cancer 2018 Oct 12;18(1):975. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Departments of Infectious Diseases, Osaka Habikino Medical Center, 3-7-1 Habikino, Habikino City, Osaka, 583-8588, Japan.

Background: In our previous study, colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with active Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) tolerated concurrent anti-cancer chemotherapy (anti-CCT) and anti-MTB chemotherapy. In this study, we retrospectively confirmed the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemotherapy in a greater number of patients with different types of malignancies.

Methods: We enrolled 30 patients who were treated concurrently with anti-CCT and anti-MTB regimens between January 2006 and February 2016. Read More

J Med Microbiol 2018 Dec 11;67(12):1689-1697. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

1​Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, ID, USA.

Purpose: Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic spore-forming bacterial pathogen that causes a spectrum of illness severity ranging from mild diarrhoea to severe life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis. C. difficile infection (CDI) is antibiotic-associated and primarily mediated by two exotoxins, Toxins A and B. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2018 Dec 6;1865(12):1945-1958. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Department of Medicine, University of Perugia Medical School, Perugia, Italy; Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes nosocomial/antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis, with dramatic incidence/mortality worldwide. C. difficile virulence factors are toxin A and toxin B (TcdB) which cause cytopathic/cytotoxic effects and inflammation. Read More

BMC Anesthesiol 2018 Sep 27;18(1):133. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

University Department for Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, Struempellstr. 39, 04289, Leipzig, Germany.

Background: Clostridium difficile (CD) is the most common pathogen causing nosocomial diarrhea. The clinical presentation ranges from mild diarrhea to severe complications, including pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, sepsis, and multi-organ failure. When the disease takes a fulminant course, death ensues rapidly in severe and complex cases. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Dec 20;37(12):2355-2359. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The clinical significance of indeterminate (PCR+/Tox-) results for patients tested with a two-step algorithm for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and 8-week outcomes of patients with indeterminate test results. Patients with stool samples testing positive by PCR and negative by toxin A/B immunoassay between February 1, 2017, and April 30, 2018, were assessed by antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) clinicians and classified as colonized or infected. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Dec 3;37(12):2293-2299. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Service de Biologie, Unité de Microbiologie, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France.

Our aim was to study Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in peripartum women in France and compare them to cases published in the literature. We characterize these infections regarding clinico-biological features and specific risk factors in order to raise awareness for obstetricians and midwifes. Eight antepartum and six post-partum CDI cases were retrospectively studied in 6 French centers during the period between 2008 and 2013. Read More

Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf) 2018 Aug 28;6(3):157-166. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

General Surgery Department, Liverpool Hospital, Elizabeth St, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.

is a major cause of hospital-associated diarrhoea, and in severe cases leads to pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. The frequency of infection (CDI) has increased in recent decades, with 453 000 cases identified in 2011 in the USA. This is related to antibiotic-selection pressure, disruption of normal host intestinal microbiota and emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Read More

Lett Appl Microbiol 2018 Nov 19;67(5):513-519. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Mice in buildings are a hygiene hazard because they harbour several zoonoses and animal diseases. The aim of this study was to gather information on specific bacteria in house mice caught in the urban environment. Mice caught in snap traps during pest control activities were collected in and around the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands, during May-June 2014, October-November 2015 and September-November 2016. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 7;9:1843. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen Göttingen, Germany.

infections (CDI) are considered worldwide as emerging health threat. Uptake of 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. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Nov 17;37(11):2123-2130. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) produces a variety of clinical presentations ranging from mild diarrhea to severe infection with fulminant colitis, septic shock, and death. CDI puts a heavy burden on healthcare systems due to increased morbidity and mortality, and higher costs. We evaluated the clinical impact of CDI in terms of complications and mortality in a French university hospital compared with patients with diarrhea unrelated to CDI. Read More

Cureus 2018 Jun 11;10(6):e2778. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

Department of Gastroenterology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) continues to possess a significant disease burden in the United States (US) as well as all over the world. Given the increase in severity and recurrence rate, the decrease in cure rate, and the fact that the virulent ribotype 027 strain remains one of the most commonly identified strains in the US, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published a clinical practice guideline in February 2018 moving away from metronidazole as the first-line treatment for initial CDI and recommending either oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical data available comparing the efficacy of primary treatment of CDI between those two antibiotics. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 31;9:1701. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

is recognized as a problematic pathogen, causing severe enteric diseases including antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. The emergence of antibiotic resistant has driven a search for alternative anti-infection modalities. A promising strategy for controlling bacterial infection includes the use of bacteriophages and their gene products. Read More

Am J Transplant 2019 Feb 31;19(2):501-511. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is recommended for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) treatment; however, use in solid organ transplantation (SOT) patients has theoretical safety concerns. This multicenter, retrospective study evaluated FMT safety, effectiveness, and risk factors for failure in SOT patients. Primary cure and overall cure were defined as resolution of diarrhea or negative C difficile stool test after a single FMT or after subsequent FMT(s) ± anti-CDI antibiotics, respectively. Read More

Curr Microbiol 2018 Aug 6. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, 141, Stockholm, Sweden.

Clostridium difficile is normally present in low numbers in a healthy adult gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). Drastic changes in the microbial population, e.g. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jul 26;2018. Epub 2018 Jul 26.

General Surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA.

PLoS One 2018 26;13(7):e0201539. Epub 2018 Jul 26.

School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) caused by ribotype 002 strain is associated with poor outcomes in Chinese patients. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective but costly treatment for CDI. We aimed to examine potential cost-effectiveness of ribotype-guided FMT in Chinese patients with severe CDI. Read More

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Nov 19;92(3):250-252. Epub 2018 Jun 19.

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia; Antibiotic Development, Boulos & Cooper Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Balcatta, WA, Australia. Electronic address:

Antibiotic drug development remains a major challenge with few candidates in clinical development. Ramizol, a first-in-class styrylbenzene antibiotic, is under development for the treatment of Clostridium difficile associated disease. Here, we investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of Ramizol in comparison to fidaxomicin, vancomycin and metronidazole against 100 clinical isolates of C. Read More

Case Rep Gastroenterol 2018 May-Aug;12(2):277-285. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare event in surgery. It looks like acute appendicitis and it is difficult to diagnose it on clinical grounds alone. The diagnosis is always confirmed by histopathology of a surgically removed appendix. Read More

Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed 2018 Jul 11. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Klinik für Innere Medizin IV (Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie, Infektiologie, Interdisziplinäre Endoskopie), Universitätsklinikum Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07740, Jena, Deutschland.

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are encountered in about 1-2% of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and pose a special challenge to those who provide care. Only little data regarding severity and management of CDI in ICU patients in Europe are available. Extrapolation of results from one patient population to another is often difficult. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 18;9:1264. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

is well known as an agent responsible for pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The hamster model utilizing an oral route for infection of has been considered to be the standard model for analysis of infection (CDI) but this model exhibits differences to human CDI, most notably as most hamsters die without exhibiting diarrhea. Therefore, we attempted to develop a new non-lethal and diarrheal rat CDI model caused by endogenous using metronidazole (MNZ) and egg white. Read More

Am Surg 2018 May;84(5):628-632

Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Frailty has been noted as a powerful predictive preoperative tool for 30-day postoperative complications. We sought to evaluate the association between frailty and postoperative outcomes after colectomy for Clostridium difficile colitis. The National Surgical Quality and Improvement Program cross-institutional database was used for this study. Read More

Microb Pathog 2018 Oct 27;123:42-46. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

Department of Bacteriology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan.

Although standard antibiotic therapy is performed for diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile, a high recurrence rate of C. difficile infection (CDI) remains a major problem. We previously showed that a membrane fraction of nontoxigenic C. Read More

Iran J Microbiol 2018 Feb;10(1):1-6

Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Kochi, Kerala, India.

Background And Objectives: infections (CDI) include self-limiting antibiotic associated diarrhoea (AAD), antibiotic-associated colitis, and pseudomembranous colitis. The present study aimed at detecting toxin in stool samples of patients with AAD and analyzing the antibiotic use and presence of other risk factors in these patients.

Materials And Methods: In this study, which was conducted on 660 samples, a 2- step strategy was used. Read More

J Surg Res 2018 Aug 3;228:107-111. Epub 2018 Apr 3.

Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas; Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.

Background: Clostridium difficile is the most common causative pathogen for hospital-acquired infections in the intensive care unit. This study evaluated the effect of chlorhexidine bathing every other day in preventing hospital-acquired C. difficile infection (CDI) using data from the CHlorhexidine Gluconate BATHing (CHG-BATH) randomized trial. Read More

Adv Clin Exp Med 2018 Aug;27(8):1081-1084

Research and Development Center, Provincial Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.

Background: Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a Gram-positive bacillus responsible for diarrhea and colitis, mainly among hospitalized patients. It is a leading cause of nosocomial infections. Read More

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 09;30(9):1041-1046

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital, Oakland, California, USA.

Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with Clostridium difficile co-infection (CDCI) have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We aim to evaluate the impact of CDCI on in-hospital outcomes among adults with IBD hospitalized in the USA.

Patients And Methods: Using the 2007-2013 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, hospitalizations among US adults with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and CDCI were identified using ICD-9 coding. Read More

Curr Gastroenterol Rep 2018 Jun 9;20(7):30. Epub 2018 Jun 9.

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Louisville, 550 S. Jackson St., Ambulatory Care Building 3nd Floor, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) has become established as an effective therapeutic modality in the treatment of antibiotic-refractory recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis. A number of formulations and methods of delivery of FMT are currently available, each with distinct advantages. This review aims to review donor and patient selection for FMT as well as procedural aspects of FMT to help guide clinical practice. Read More

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018 Jul 30;48(2):152-159. Epub 2018 May 30.

Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Gastroenterology and Oncology Area, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

Background: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a highly effective treatment against recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. Far less evidence exists on the efficacy of FMT in treating severe Clostridium difficile infection refractory to antibiotics.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of two FMT-based protocols associated with vancomycin in curing subjects with severe Clostridium difficile infection refractory to antibiotics. Read More

Rev Col Bras Cir 2018 24;45(2):e1609. Epub 2018 May 24.

Medical School, São Camilo University Center, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Clostridium difficile infection is a common complication following intestinal dysbiosis caused by abusive antibiotic use. It presents medical importance due to the high rates of recurrence and morbidity. Fecal microbiota transplantation is an effective alternative for the treatment of recurrent and refractory C. Read More

Intest Res 2018 Apr 30;16(2):267-272. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea.

Background/aims: infection (CDI) has been reported to be a cause of flare-ups in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We evaluated the prevalence and clinical outcomes of CDI in patients with UC hospitalized for flare-ups.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter study including 7 academic teaching hospitals in Korea. Read More

Saudi J Biol Sci 2018 May 4;25(4):783-785. Epub 2016 Aug 4.

Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

has been shown to be a nosocomial infection associated with diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis in hospitalized patients especially old patients. In my previous studies, it was shown the occurrence of in animals feces and vegetables which may act as a source of infection to humans. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of in retail raw cow, sheep, and goat, meat in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Read More

Pathog Dis 2018 04;76(3)

Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, F-69007 Lyon, France.

Numerous pathogens including Clostridium difficile and Yersinia pestis have evolved toxins or effectors targeting GTPases from the RhoA subfamily (RhoA/B/C) to inhibit or hijack the host cytoskeleton dynamics. The resulting impairment of RhoA GTPases activity is sensed by the host via an innate immune complex termed the pyrin inflammasome in which caspase-1 is activated. The cascade leading to activation of the pyrin inflammasome has been recently uncovered. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2018 Apr 28;12(1):112. Epub 2018 Apr 28.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA.

Background: Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection is a growing problem among children due to both the increasing survival of medically fragile children with complicated chronic medical conditions resulting in prolonged antibiotic exposure and hospitalization and the emergence of strains of Clostridium difficile that are hypervirulent and associated with high rates of relapse.

Case Presentation: This case describes a medically complex 21-month-old Hispanic girl with Pompe disease and B cell immunodeficiency with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection refractory to antimicrobial management. She presented with nine recurrent episodes of Clostridium difficile infection including fever, foul smelling diarrhea, and respiratory distress with failed sustained responses to compliant treatment using metronidazole and pulsed vancomycin therapy. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Apr 26;10(5). Epub 2018 Apr 26.

Department of Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9, Canada.

Over 70% of patients are prescribed antibiotics during their intensive care (ICU) admission. The gut microbiome is dramatically altered early in an ICU stay, increasing the risk for antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) and infections (CDI). Evidence suggests that some probiotics are effective in the primary prevention of AAD and CDI. Read More

Masui 2017 May;66(5):503-507

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the diagnoses of postoperative complications is discussed. POCUS is useful in many situations such as abdominal distension, elevated liver enzymes, abdominal pain, and fever, which are the common complications encountered after surgical operations. In the patients with abdominal distention, bowel distention or ascites can be easily detected by POCUS. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 10;9:646. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

Extracorporeal Immunomodulation Unit, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Rostock, Germany.

is the most frequent cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The incidence of infection (CDI) has been rising worldwide with subsequent increases in morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Asymptomatic colonization with is common and a high prevalence has been found in specific cohorts, e. Read More