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Review
. 2014 Jan;8(1):1-6.
doi: 10.5009/gnl.2014.8.1.1. Epub 2014 Jan 13.

Clostridium difficile infection: a worldwide disease

Kristin E Burke  1 , J Thomas Lamont  1
Affiliations
Review

Clostridium difficile infection: a worldwide disease

Kristin E Burke et al. Gut Liver. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Clostridium difficile, an anaerobic toxigenic bacterium, causes a severe infectious colitis that leads to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Both enhanced bacterial toxins and diminished host immune response contribute to symptomatic disease. C. difficile has been a well-established pathogen in North America and Europe for decades, but is just emerging in Asia. This article reviews the epidemiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management of C. difficile. Prompt recognition of C. difficile is necessary to implement appropriate infection control practices.

Keywords: Asia; Clostridium difficile; Epidemiology; Review.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Clostridium difficile toxins A and B monoglucosylate Rho GTPases. In the cytosol, the catalytic regions of toxin A and B glucosylate target Rho GTPases at the threonine residue (Thr), leading to disaffiliation of the actin cytoskeleton and eventual cell apoptosis.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pseudomembranous colitis. Appearance of pseudomembranes on colonoscopy confirms the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile, though is not required for diagnosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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