Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central Poland

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) represents a significant public health challenge globally, driven by its increasing prevalence, hypervirulent strains like ribotype 027 (RT027), and growing antibiotic resistance. This study aimed t...

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Main Authors: Agata Ptaszyńska, Anna Macieja, Dominika Rosińska-Lewandoska, Filip Bielec, Piotr Machnicki, Małgorzata Brauncajs, Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Antibiotics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/3/219
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author Agata Ptaszyńska
Anna Macieja
Dominika Rosińska-Lewandoska
Filip Bielec
Piotr Machnicki
Małgorzata Brauncajs
Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
author_facet Agata Ptaszyńska
Anna Macieja
Dominika Rosińska-Lewandoska
Filip Bielec
Piotr Machnicki
Małgorzata Brauncajs
Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
author_sort Agata Ptaszyńska
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) represents a significant public health challenge globally, driven by its increasing prevalence, hypervirulent strains like ribotype 027 (RT027), and growing antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of RT027 and analyze molecular markers of vancomycin and metronidazole resistance in stool samples from CDI patients hospitalized in Poland between 2017 and 2019. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 200 stool samples from confirmed CDI cases were analyzed for the presence of RT027, <i>vanA</i> (vancomycin resistance), and <i>nim</i> (metronidazole resistance) genes. DNA was extracted, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted using specific primers. Statistical associations between RT027 and resistance genes were evaluated using chi-square tests and logistic regression. <b>Results:</b> RT027 was detected in 14% of samples. The <i>vanA</i> gene, indicative of vancomycin resistance, was found in 52.5% of samples, while the <i>nim</i> gene, associated with metronidazole resistance, was present in 1.5% of cases. Co-occurrence of RT027 with <i>vanA</i> was not statistically significant. The study revealed no significant association between RT027 and <i>vanA</i>. Also, no significant association was observed between RT027 and <i>nim</i> due to the latter’s low prevalence. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study highlights a concerning prevalence of <i>vanA</i> among CDI cases, indicating widespread vancomycin resistance and challenging current treatment guidelines. While RT027 prevalence was moderate, no significant associations with vancomycin or metronidazole resistance were observed. These findings emphasize the need for molecular surveillance and improved antimicrobial stewardship to manage CDI effectively.
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series Antibiotics
spelling doaj-art-d8cf52bcd33e4db696c2c5f902e04bb62025-08-20T03:43:50ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822025-02-0114321910.3390/antibiotics14030219Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central PolandAgata Ptaszyńska0Anna Macieja1Dominika Rosińska-Lewandoska2Filip Bielec3Piotr Machnicki4Małgorzata Brauncajs5Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska6Department of Microbiology and Laboratory Medical Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Laboratory Medical Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Laboratory Medical Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Laboratory Medical Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Laboratory Medical Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Laboratory Medical Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, Poland<b>Background/Objectives:</b> <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) represents a significant public health challenge globally, driven by its increasing prevalence, hypervirulent strains like ribotype 027 (RT027), and growing antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of RT027 and analyze molecular markers of vancomycin and metronidazole resistance in stool samples from CDI patients hospitalized in Poland between 2017 and 2019. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 200 stool samples from confirmed CDI cases were analyzed for the presence of RT027, <i>vanA</i> (vancomycin resistance), and <i>nim</i> (metronidazole resistance) genes. DNA was extracted, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted using specific primers. Statistical associations between RT027 and resistance genes were evaluated using chi-square tests and logistic regression. <b>Results:</b> RT027 was detected in 14% of samples. The <i>vanA</i> gene, indicative of vancomycin resistance, was found in 52.5% of samples, while the <i>nim</i> gene, associated with metronidazole resistance, was present in 1.5% of cases. Co-occurrence of RT027 with <i>vanA</i> was not statistically significant. The study revealed no significant association between RT027 and <i>vanA</i>. Also, no significant association was observed between RT027 and <i>nim</i> due to the latter’s low prevalence. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study highlights a concerning prevalence of <i>vanA</i> among CDI cases, indicating widespread vancomycin resistance and challenging current treatment guidelines. While RT027 prevalence was moderate, no significant associations with vancomycin or metronidazole resistance were observed. These findings emphasize the need for molecular surveillance and improved antimicrobial stewardship to manage CDI effectively.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/3/219<i>Clostridioides difficile</i>ribotype 027<i>vanA</i> gene<i>nim</i> genemolecular epidemiologyantimicrobial resistance
spellingShingle Agata Ptaszyńska
Anna Macieja
Dominika Rosińska-Lewandoska
Filip Bielec
Piotr Machnicki
Małgorzata Brauncajs
Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central Poland
Antibiotics
<i>Clostridioides difficile</i>
ribotype 027
<i>vanA</i> gene
<i>nim</i> gene
molecular epidemiology
antimicrobial resistance
title Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central Poland
title_full Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central Poland
title_fullStr Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central Poland
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central Poland
title_short Molecular Epidemiology of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infections in Patients Hospitalized in 2017–2019 at the Central Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Central Poland
title_sort molecular epidemiology of i clostridioides difficile i infections in patients hospitalized in 2017 2019 at the central teaching hospital of medical university of lodz central poland
topic <i>Clostridioides difficile</i>
ribotype 027
<i>vanA</i> gene
<i>nim</i> gene
molecular epidemiology
antimicrobial resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/3/219
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