Link: VacZine Analytics: Clostridium Difficile - Vaccines Must Be Part of Future Action Plan.
New studies released by research consultancy, VacZine Analytics suggest that a vaccine could be the most effective weapon against Clostridium difficile, the dangerous hospital “superbug”. The development of a vaccine, along with other non-antibiotic approaches must be prioritized as part of any future action plan. The new research puts forward a possible vaccination strategy and confirms there is enough economic incentive for manufacturers to fund development.
Clostridium difficile (C.diff) is a Gram-positive bacterium, which causes gastrointestinal infections in vulnerable hospitalized patients. Outcomes range from mild uncomplicated diarrhea to severe-complicated disease with fever, tachycardia and psuedomembranous colitis. Mortality rates can reach 6-30% however; in patients with toxic megacolon who require surgery rates increase to 35-50%. In the UK, C.diff has been a factor in the death of over 3000 people in 2005 (ONS Figures).
When interviewed, leading experts agreed that C.diff had joined MRSA in being one of the most serious hospital infections they faced. Major concerns were the dramatic yearly rises (10-20%) in incidence and increases in disease severity. These observations reflected official trends stated by US CDC and UK Health Protection Agency (HPA). Although some experts were hopeful C.diff incidence could be reduced, others saw little reason why the problem would decrease without radical developments in prevention. An aging population, insufficient infection control, continued high use of antibiotics and a new strain of C.diff (027/Nap1) were cited as key drivers behind the current “epidemic”.
