title: Novel approaches to treating Clostridium difficile-associated colitis.
abstract: Clostridium difficile is being recognized as a growing threat to many health-care systems. Epidemiology data shows that infection rates are soaring and the disease burden is increasing. Despite the efficacy of standard treatments, it is becoming evident that novel therapeutics will be required to tackle this disease. These new treatments aim to enhance the intestinal microbial barrier, activate the immune system and neutralize the toxins that mediate this disease. Many of these therapies are still in the beginning stages of investigation, however, in the next few years, more clinical data will become available to help implement many of these exciting new therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Padua
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Charalabos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pothoulakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003092:Colitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000069467:Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines
keywords: Clostridium difficile; fecal microbial transplant; novel therapeutics; probiotics; vaccine therapy