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RESEARCH ARTICLE

The impact of antimicrobial resistance on induction, transmission and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection

Stacey Hong A B , Daniel R Knight A and Thomas V Riley A B C D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6105, Australia

B School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia

C School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia

D Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia

E Tel: +61 8 6457 3690, Email: thomas.riley@uwa.edu.au

Microbiology Australia 40(2) 77-81 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA19022
Published: 18 April 2019

Abstract

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a potentially life-threatening disease that has surpassed multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as the commonest antimicrobial-resistant organism associated with healthcare1. This obligate anaerobic spore-forming Gram-positive bacillus colonises the GI tract and its numbers increase after disruption of the commensal GI microbiota often induced by exposure to antimicrobial agents2. Paradoxically, the disease that may follow its outgrowth necessitates further antimicrobial treatment. Already a major challenge to infection prevention and control strategies, there are indications that C. difficile is developing further resistance to currently used antimicrobial agents.


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