Microbiota in Clostridium difficile infection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the causes and consequences of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalised children
IRAS ID
219165
Contact name
Gintare Vaitkute
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS foundation Trust & The UCL Institute of Child Health
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 5 days
Research summary
Clostridium difficile-associated infection is one of the most commonly acquired hospital infections, the rates of which have been increasing steadily in the paediatric population. Despite this, up to 70% of children carry this bacterium asymptomatically, without acquiring the infection. The reasons for this are as of yet unknown.
The microbiome is now known to be intrinsically linked to human health and dysbiosis is often thought to contribute to disease. Previous research suggests that asymptomatic C.difficile carriage may be protective of the development of clinical disease and that dysbiosis, due to various factors including antibiotic usage, may contribute towards disease. Previous research has, in adult populations, found that due to the depletion of certain bacterial species within the gut as a result of antibiotic use, there is a dramatic shift in the primary to secondary bile acid ratio, which allows for the germination of C.difficile spores and hence facilitates disease. The human host may also be important in regulating C. difficile carriage and disease. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small, regulatory molecules that are released by the epithelial cells in the gut and may be important in detecting and regulating C. difficile disease.
Certain populations of children, including bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients and children undergoing cardiac transplants, appear to have increased risk for acquiring the infection throughout their stay. This study will utilise longitudinal faecal samples, collected from children in the BMT and Cardiac populations as part of routine clinical care. We will attempt to elucidate the reasons for asymptomatic C. difficile carriage and for the increased susceptibility of infection in these particular populations. We hope to identify new biomarkers to detect those children at greatest risk.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0061
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion