Gut Ruminococcaceae Levels at Baseline Correlate with Risk of Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea but can also result in more serious, life-threatening conditions. The incidence of C. difficile infections in hospitals is increasing, both in frequency and severity, and antibiotic-resistant C. difficile strains are advancing. Against this background antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an interesting alternative to classic antibiotics. Information on the effects of AMPs on C. difficile will not only enhance the knowledge for possible biomedical application but may also provide insights into mechanisms of C. difficile to adapt or counteract AMPs. This study applies state-of-the-art mass spectrometry methods to quantitatively investigate the proteomic response of C. difficile 630∆erm to sublethal concentrations of the AMP nisin allowing to follow the cellular stress adaptation in a time-resolved manner. The results do not only point at a heavy reorganization of the cellular envelope but also resulted in pronounced changes in central cellular processes such as carbohydrate metabolism. Further, the number of flagella per cell was increased during the adaptation process. The potential involvement of flagella in nisin adaptation was supported by a more resistant phenotype exhibited by a non-motile but hyper-flagellated mutant.

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Clinical characteristics and factors related to antibiotic-associated diarrhea in elderly patients with pneumonia: a retrospective cohort study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02267-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yoko Takedani ◽

Tsukasa Nakamura ◽

Noriko Fukiwake ◽

Toshihiro Imada ◽

Junji Mashino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea ◽

Elderly Inpatients

Abstract Background Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common problem among elderly inpatients because many elderly patients are admitted for pneumonia or other conditions that necessitate antibiotic treatment. In the super aging population, more patients are suffering from pneumonia than before, but the incidence or risk factors for AAD among many elderly patients have not been well scrutinized. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of elderly patients diagnosed with pneumonia from April 2014 to March 2019 who were admitted to the Department of General Medicine of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Japan. Patients (≥ 65 years of age) who were diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia or aspiration pneumonia and treated with antibiotics were included. We defined AAD by diarrhea with more than three loose or watery stools per day and included patients who had these symptoms for either one day or two or more consecutive days. We also assessed the length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality. The potential risk factors for AAD included age, sex, body weight, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, activities of daily living (ADL),　comorbidities, vital signs, laboratories, the severity of pneumonia, antibiotic and other medication use. Results There were 1,067 patients, the mean age was 83 years, and men accounted for 59 %. β-Lactamase inhibitors were frequently prescribed antibiotics in 703 patients (66 %), and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were also commonly administered (48 %). AAD developed in 322 patients (30 %). The multivariate logistic regression model showed that β-lactamase inhibitors (OR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.05–1.95) and PPIs (OR 1.37, 95 % CI 1.03–1.83) were associated with AAD as well as age (OR 1.03 per year, 95 % CI 1.01–1.05). Conclusions AAD was common among elderly inpatients with pneumonia, and β-lactamase inhibitors and PPIs were associated with AAD. Strict use of such medication should be considered to decrease the risk of AAD.

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