PRJNA679727
Changes in gut microbiota composition under Clostridioides difficile infection: a comprehensive comparison of patients with health-care-facility- or community-onset associated diarrhea
We investigated the bacterial, archaea, and eukaryotic intestinal microbiota of patients with health-care-facility- or community-onset (HCFO and CO, respectively) diarrhea who were positive or negative for CDI. The CDI-positive groups (CO, HCFO) showed an increase in microorganisms belonging to Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Opalinata compared with the CDI-negative groups (CO, HCFO). Patients with intrahospital-acquired diarrhea (HCFO, HCFO) showed a marked decrease in bacteria beneficial to the intestine, and there was evidence of increased Archaea and Candida and Malassezia species compared with the CO groups (CO, CO). Characteristic microbiota biomarkers were established for each group. Finally, correlations between bacteria and eukaryotes indicated interactions among the different kingdoms making up the intestinal ecosystem. We showed the impact of CDI on microbiota varies with where the infection is acquired, and intrahospital-acquired diarrhea was one of the most influential factors in the modulation of bacterial, archaea, and eukaryotic populations. We also highlight interactions between the different kingdoms of the intestinal ecosystem, which need to be evaluated to improve our understanding of CDI pathophysiology.