The article presents the growing role of Clostridium difficile in causing infections in human patients, and, to some extent in animals as well. They occur mainly as the result of antibiotic therapy and anti-cancer chemotherapy which generate the selection of easily spore-forming and resistant pathogenic bacteria. These, in turn, after multiplying in the intestines, may induce antibiotic associated diarrhea, colitis and sometimes even fatal pseudomembranous colitis. The article also discusses different reservoirs of C. difficile in the hospital environment and its paths of transmission through patients and hospital staff. Special attention is paid to exogenous sources of infection such as animals and their role as possible vectors of zoonotic infections. Different virulence factors of C. difficile, mainly toxin A (enterotoxin) and toxin В (cytotoxin), their biological properties, toxin receptors and the attack mechanisms of enterotoxin on the actin-containing cytoskeleton of the gut epithelium, increased peristalsis and permeability, accumulation of fluid and intestinal damage are also evaluated. General principles of therapy, especially the use of vankomycin together with cholestyramine and a probiotic which deals with Saccharomyces boulardii (resisistant to antibiotics) are also presented.
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.