The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection has been elevated and becoming common in hospitals worldwide. Although antibiotics usually serve as the primary treatment for bacterial infection including C. difficile infection, limitations and failures have been evident due to drug resistance. Antibiotic resistance in C. difficile has been recognized as one of the most important factors to promote the infection and increase the level of severity and the recurrence rate. Several outbreaks in many countries have been linked to the emergence of hypervirulent drug-resistant strains. This pathogen harbours various mechanisms against the actions of antibiotics. The present study highlights three main drug-resistant strategies in C. difficile including drug inactivation, target modification and efflux pump. Other mechanisms that potentially contribute to drug-resistant traits in this organism are also discussed.
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March 2017
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A representative image of a microfl uidic device for antibiotic susceptibility testing. In the device, bacterial cells are immobilized enabling realtime monitoring of bacterial morphology. Upon addition of antibiotics, susceptible cells die, while the resistant bacteria survive. For more information please see the article by Aroonnual et al. (pages 91-101).Close Modal - PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
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Review Article|
March 03 2017
Insights into drug resistance mechanisms in Clostridium difficile
Phurt Harnvoravongchai;
Phurt Harnvoravongchai
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Methinee Pipatthana;
Methinee Pipatthana
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Surang Chankhamhaengdecha;
Surang Chankhamhaengdecha
2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Tavan Janvilisri
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Correspondence: Tavan Janvilisri (tavan.jan@mahidol.ac.th)
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Essays Biochem (2017) 61 (1): 81–88.
Article history
Received:
September 28 2016
Revision Received:
January 03 2017
Accepted:
January 05 2017
Citation
Henrietta Venter, Phurt Harnvoravongchai, Methinee Pipatthana, Surang Chankhamhaengdecha, Tavan Janvilisri; Insights into drug resistance mechanisms in Clostridium difficile. Essays Biochem 3 March 2017; 61 (1): 81–88. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/EBC20160062
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