Clostridium Difficile, Clostridium Difficile Infection
Conditions
Keywords
ribotypes, Hong Kong, virulence mechanism
Brief summary
This study is an observational study to collect stool samples from patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) to investigate the virulence mechanisms of C. difficile ribotypes in Hong Kong, mainly ribotype 002. No intervention is involved.
Detailed description
This is an observational study to collect stool samples from patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), aims to (1) to investigate the virulence mechanisms of C. difficile ribotype 002, by analysing its growth, cytotoxicity, and metabolite production in vitro and in vivo. The investigators also aim (2) to compare these virulence mechanisms with other common ribotypes in Asia, and (3) to correlate these with important clinical outcomes. The results of this study will have a major significance to the medical and scientific community. The results of this study will have a major significance to the medical and scientific community. The mechanistic data will point to important molecular pathways that can be targeted for novel therapies; whereas the phenotypic data will inform the investigators of its virulence and therefore will be useful for disease surveillance and public health interventions. The identified toxin(s) and metabolite(s) may be useful as prognostic biomarkers to stratify patients with different outcomes, as patients with a worse outcome may require more aggressive therapy. Given the prevalence and severity of this ribotype, the results will be useful for gastroenterologists, microbiologists, infectious diseases physicians and public health specialists in the Asia Pacific region.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CDI, as documented by diarrheal symptoms and positive stool test result for C. difficile toxin or toxigenic C. difficile, or colonoscopic findings of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). * Patients aged over or equal to 18 years old. * Patients able and willing to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Patients with concomitant infection by other microbes such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Shigella, and Escherichia coli. * Patients under 18 years old. * Patients who cannot give consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Isolate Clostridium difficile from patients' stool for ribotyping to identify which ribotype was the Clostridium difficile from the patient. | 1 year | Clostridium difficile will be isolated from stool sample of the patients and will be used for ribotyping. Ribotyping will be done to the Clostridium difficile strain isolated to classify them into different ribotypes. This is to measure the number of patients with a particular ribotype. Virulence mechanism will also be evaluated through experiments with isolated bacteria on growth curve, toxin production, sporulation, germination and adhesion. |
Countries
Hong Kong
Contacts
Primary ContactDr. Sunny Wong
Outcome results
None listed