Clostridioides difficile and the microbiota early in life

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming, obligate anaerobe, and ubiquitous nosocomial pathogen. While C. difficile infection in adults causes a spectrum of disease, including pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon, healthy infants are asymptomatically colonized at high rates. The mechanisms leading to high colonization rates and infant protection from C. difficile are currently unknown; however, the ecology and metabolic state of the intestinal microbiome are factors known to influence C. difficile pathogenesis. In this review, we will examine the aspects of the early-life microbiome that may contribute to the incidence of C. difficile and protection from disease manifestation in infants. We will also discuss whether features of the adult microbiota that enable and restrict C. difficile are prevalent during early-life colonization.