TY - JOUR
T1 - Clostridium difficile associated infections
T2 - An updated view
AU - Hernández-Rocha, Cristian
AU - Naour, Sebastián
AU - Álvarez-Lobos, Manuel
AU - Paredes-Sabja, Daniel
PY - 2012/8
Y1 - 2012/8
N2 - Clostridium difficile is an emerging anaerobic, spore forming pathogen, recognized as the etiological agent of ~ 30% of antibiotic associated diarrheas. Clinical symptoms can fluctuate from mild to moderate diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. The incidence of C. diffi cile associated infections (CDAI) is ~ 1% of total hospitalized patients. CDAI has a mortality rate of ~1 to 5%, and a relapse rate of ~ 20%. The appearance of severe outbreaks of CDAI could be attributed to changes in the production of the two major virulence factors, the enterotoxins TcdA and TcdB, which produce massive epithelial damage. C. diffi cile spores play an essential role in transmission, initiation and persistence of CDAI. Recent advances in detection methods, development of novel therapies and prevention methods could allow a reduction on the frequency of CDAI. The objective of this review is to provide an updated view on the mechanisms of pathogenesis, epidemiology, risk factors, detection methods, treatment and prevention of CDAI.
AB - Clostridium difficile is an emerging anaerobic, spore forming pathogen, recognized as the etiological agent of ~ 30% of antibiotic associated diarrheas. Clinical symptoms can fluctuate from mild to moderate diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. The incidence of C. diffi cile associated infections (CDAI) is ~ 1% of total hospitalized patients. CDAI has a mortality rate of ~1 to 5%, and a relapse rate of ~ 20%. The appearance of severe outbreaks of CDAI could be attributed to changes in the production of the two major virulence factors, the enterotoxins TcdA and TcdB, which produce massive epithelial damage. C. diffi cile spores play an essential role in transmission, initiation and persistence of CDAI. Recent advances in detection methods, development of novel therapies and prevention methods could allow a reduction on the frequency of CDAI. The objective of this review is to provide an updated view on the mechanisms of pathogenesis, epidemiology, risk factors, detection methods, treatment and prevention of CDAI.
KW - Antibiotic associated colitis
KW - C. difficile
KW - Cdai
KW - Pseudomembranous colitis
KW - Spores
KW - Toxic megacolon
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866354679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4067/S0716-10182012000400011
DO - 10.4067/S0716-10182012000400011
M3 - Review article
C2 - 23096544
AN - SCOPUS:84866354679
SN - 0716-1018
VL - 29
SP - 434
EP - 445
JO - Revista Chilena de Infectologia
JF - Revista Chilena de Infectologia
IS - 4
ER -