The Ecology and Pathobiology of Clostridium difficile Infections: An Interdisciplinary Challenge

  1. E. R. Dubberke1,
  2. D. B. Haslam2,3,
  3. C. Lanzas4,
  4. L. D. Bobo1,
  5. C.-A. D. Burnham2,
  6. Y. T. Gröhn4,
  7. P. I. Tarr2,3

Article first published online: 24 SEP 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01352.x

Issue

Zoonoses and Public Health

Zoonoses and Public Health

Volume 58, Issue 1, pages 4–20, February 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Dubberke, E. R., Haslam, D. B., Lanzas, C., Bobo, L. D., Burnham, C.-A. D., Gröhn, Y. T. and Tarr, P. I. (2011), The Ecology and Pathobiology of Clostridium difficile Infections: An Interdisciplinary Challenge. Zoonoses and Public Health, 58: 4–20. doi: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01352.x

Author Information

  1. 1

     Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

  2. 2

     Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

  3. 3

     Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

  4. 4

     Department of Population and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

*Phillip I. Tarr. Department of Pediatrics, Campus Box 8208, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Tel.: 314 286 2848; Fax: 314 286 2895; E-mail: tarr@wustl.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 JAN 2011
  2. Article first published online: 24 SEP 2010
  3. Received for publication February 3, 2010

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Keywords:

  • Clostridium difficile;
  • infection;
  • human;
  • veterinary

Summary

Clostridium difficile is a well recognized pathogen of humans and animals. Although C. difficile was first identified over 70 years ago, much remains unknown in regards to the primary source of human acquisition and its pathobiology. These deficits in our knowledge have been intensified by dramatic increases in both the frequency and severity of disease in humans over the last decade. The changes in C. difficile epidemiology might be due to the emergence of a hypervirulent stain of C. difficile, ageing of the population, altered risk of developing infection with newer medications, and/or increased exposure to C. difficile outside of hospitals. In recent years, there have been numerous reports documenting C. difficile contamination of various foods, and reports of similarities between strains that infect animals and strains that infect humans as well. The purposes of this review are to highlight the many challenges to diagnosing, treating, and preventing C. difficile infection in humans, and to stress that collaboration between human and veterinary researchers is needed to control this pathogen.

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