PTH-008 Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (PACT) Selectively Kills Clostridium Difficile over Colon Cells and is Effective Against 5 Hypervirulent Strains of the Pathogen

Abstract

Introduction Clostridium difficile (CD) is the leading cause of hospital and community-acquired antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in the developed world. Since 2003, a new lineage of strains with more severe virulence has emerged, leading to an increased number of outbreaks of disease in North America and Europe and raising the impellent need for an effective therapy. Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (PACT) utilises the ability of light-activated photosensitisers (PS) to produce free radical species lethal to the target pathogens. To date, no pathogens have developed resistance to PACT. This study aimed to develop and evaluate PACT for the treatment of CD.