Infection and Chemotherapy  2019;51(4):365-375

doi:10.3947/ic.2019.51.4.365

Characteristics of Faecal Microbiota in Korean Patients with Clostridioides difficile-associated Diarrhea

Yong Duk JEON 1 ; Hea Won ANN ; Woon Ji LEE ; Jun Hyoung KIM ; Hye SEONG ; Jung Ho KIM ; Jin Young AHN ; Su Jin JEONG ; Nam Su KU ; Joon Sup YEOM ; Dongeun YONG ; Kyungwon LEE ; Jun Yong CHOI

Affiliations

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Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

BACKGROUND:The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, and regional and racial characteristics influence the microbiome composition and diversity. We investigated the intestinal microbiome characteristics of patients with C. difficile colitis (CD+) compared to those of patients with colitis not due to C. difficile (CD−), patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) colonization, and healthy controls, in Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:We collected stool samples from 24, 18, 11 and 13 subjects within CD+, CD−, VRE and healthy control groups, respectively. The microbial communities were evaluated by 454-pyrosequencing of bacterial 16s rRNA.

RESULTS:The species richness and microbial diversity were significantly lower in the CD+ group compared to those in healthy controls, but not compared to those in CD− and VRE groups. Phylum-level analysis showed that the proportion of Actinobacteria in the CD+ group was significantly lower than in the healthy control, but was unchanged compared to that in CD− and VRE groups. At the genus level, compared to the healthy group, the CD+ group showed significantly lower proportions of Blautia, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium et al. Compared to the VRE group, the CD+ group showed a significantly higher proportion of Anaerostipes.

CONCLUSIONS:We could identify the intestinal microbiome characteristics of Koreans with C. difficile colitis. It might help to develop microbiome based diagnostic and treatment modalities.