The Gut Microbiota Is Associated with Clearance of Clostridium difficile Infection Independent of Adaptive Immunity.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium (Clostridioides) difficile, a Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium, is the leading single cause of nosocomial infections in the United States. A major risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is prior exposure to antibiotics, as they increase susceptibility to CDI by altering the membership of the microbial community enabling colonization. The importance of the gut microbiota in providing protection from CDI is underscored by the reported 80 to 90% success rate of fecal microbial transplants in treating recurrent infections. Adaptive immunity, specifically humoral immunity, is also sufficient to protect from both acute and recurrent CDI. However, the role of the adaptive immune system in mediating clearance of C. difficile has yet t

SUBMITTER: Leslie JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6354811 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature