Characterization of community-acquired Clostridioides difficile strains in Israel, 2020–2022

Orna Schwartz, Hanan Rohana, Maya Azrad, Anna Shor, Nir Rainy, Yasmin Maor, Lior Nesher, Orli Sagi, Shifra Ken-Dror, Peter Kechker, Avi Peretz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (CA-CDI) has been rising, due to changes in antibiotics prescribing practices, emergence of hypervirulent strains and improved diagnostics. This study explored CA-CDI epidemiology by examining strain diversity and virulence factors of CA-CDI isolates collected across several geographical regions in Israel. Methods: Stool samples of 126 CA-CDI patients were subjected to PCR and an immunoassay to identify toxin genes and proteins, respectively. Toxin loci PaLoc and PaCdt were detected by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Biofilm production was assessed by crystal violet-based assay. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined using the Etest technique or agar dilution. WGS and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) were used to classify strains and investigate genetic diversity. Results: Sequence types (ST) 2 (17, 13.5%), ST42 (13, 10.3%), ST104 (10, 8%) and ST11 (9, 7.1%) were the most common. All (117, 92.8%) but ST11 belonged to Clade 1. No associations were found between ST and gender, geographic area or antibiotic susceptibility. Although all strains harbored toxins genes, 34 (27%) produced toxin A only, and 54 (42.9%) strains produced toxin B only; 38 (30.2%) produced both toxins. Most isolates were biofilm-producers (118, 93.6%), primarily weak producers (83/118, 70.3%). ST was significantly associated with both biofilm and toxin production. Conclusion: C. difficile isolates in Israel community exhibit high ST diversity, with no dominant strain. Other factors may influence the clinical outcomes of CDI such as toxin production, antibiotic resistance and biofilm production. Further studies are needed to better understand the dynamics and influence of these factors on CA-CDI.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1323257
JournalFrontiers in Microbiology
Volume14
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Schwartz, Rohana, Azrad, Shor, Rainy, Maor, Nesher, Sagi, Ken-Dror, Kechker and Peretz.

Keywords

  • C. difficile
  • CDI
  • MLST
  • clade
  • community-acquired C. difficile infection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Microbiology (medical)

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