临床传染病：开放获取

The Role of Gut Microbiota in the Pathogenesis and Management of Clostridioides difficile Infection

Abstract

Dangel Kach

In the intricate landscape of the human body, trillions of microbes coexist, with the gut microbiota being a crucial player in maintaining health and homeostasis. Among the myriad of microorganisms residing in the gut, Clostridioides difficile stands out as a formidable pathogen, notorious for causing debilitating infections. Understanding the dynamic interplay between gut microbiota and C. difficile is pivotal in elucidating the pathogenesis and devising effective management strategies for this challenging infection. Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) typically arises following disruption of the gut microbiota, often due to antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics disturb the delicate balance of microbial communities in the gut, providing an opportunity for C. difficile to proliferate and produce toxins, namely, toxin A and toxin B, which are primary virulence factors responsible for the clinical manifestations of CDI. These toxins lead to inflammation and damage to the intestinal epithelium, resulting in symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to severe colitis and potentially life-threatening complications such as toxic megacolon.