Clostridium Difficile Virulence Mechanism Study (CDVM Study)
Clostridium Difficile Virulence Mechanism Study (CDVM Study)
This study is an observational study to collect stool samples from patients with Clostridium
 difficile infection (CDI) to investigate the virulence mechanisms of C. difficile ribotypes
 in Hong Kong, mainly ribotype 002. No intervention is involved.
This is an observational study to collect stool samples from patients with Clostridium
 difficile infection (CDI), aims to (1) to investigate the virulence mechanisms of C.
 difficile ribotype 002, by analysing its growth, cytotoxicity, and metabolite production in
 vitro and in vivo. The investigators also aim (2) to compare these virulence mechanisms with
 other common ribotypes in Asia, and (3) to correlate these with important clinical outcomes.
 The results of this study will have a major significance to the medical and scientific
 community. The results of this study will have a major significance to the medical and
 scientific community. The mechanistic data will point to important molecular pathways that
 can be targeted for novel therapies; whereas the phenotypic data will inform the
 investigators of its virulence and therefore will be useful for disease surveillance and
 public health interventions. The identified toxin(s) and metabolite(s) may be useful as
 prognostic biomarkers to stratify patients with different outcomes, as patients with a worse
 outcome may require more aggressive therapy. Given the prevalence and severity of this
 ribotype, the results will be useful for gastroenterologists, microbiologists, infectious
 diseases physicians and public health specialists in the Asia Pacific region.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CDI, as documented by diarrheal symptoms and
 positive stool test result for C. difficile toxin or toxigenic C. difficile, or
 colonoscopic findings of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC).

 -  Patients aged over or equal to 18 years old.

 -  Patients able and willing to provide informed consent.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with concomitant infection by other microbes such as Salmonella,
 Campylobacter, Vibrio, Shigella, and Escherichia coli.

 -  Patients under 18 years old.

 -  Patients who cannot give consent.