Antibody therapy for Clostridium difficile infection

[kkmalaysia]

Infection with Clostridium difficile has become more prevalent and more severe in Europe and North America in recent years. Now researchers in the USA and Canada have developed monoclonal antibodies against C. difficile toxins A and B and shown them to be effective in preventing recurrent C. difficile infection.

A total of 200 adults who had had C. difficile diarrhoea in the last 14 days, continuing at the time of enrolment and treated with metronidazole or vancomycin, were randomized at 30 centres to receive an infusion of both antibodies, each at a dose of 10 mg/kg, or placebo. Recurrence of C. difficile infection within 84 days occurred in 7% (antibodies) vs 25% (placebo), a highly significant difference.

Among patients infected with the highly virulent epidemic strain (BI/NAP1/027) the reinfection rates were 8% vs 32%, and among patients with more than one previous episode the rates were 7% vs 64 Medical Progress June 2010 Global Summaries 38%. Serious adverse events were more common in the placebo group.

Treatment with antitoxin monoclonal antibodies reduced the risk of recurrence.

Lowry I et al. Treatment with monoclonal antibodies against Clostridium difficile toxins. NEJM 2010;362:197–205; Kyne L. Clostridium difficile – beyond antibiotics. Ibid:264–265 (editorial).

[kennymevrick]

Well The classic symptoms of a bacterial infection are localized redness, heat, swelling and pain. One of the hallmarks of a bacterial infection is local pain, pain that is in a specific part of the body. For example, if a cut occurs and it is infected with bacteria, pain will occur at the site of the infection. Infection with Clostridium difficile has become more prevalent and more severe in Europe countries.