C. difficile Infection
C. difficile infection (CDI) at a glance
Clostridiodes difficile is a toxin-producing, spore-forming bacterial pathogen that can cause a variety of symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and cramping. In its more severe form, CDI can cause dehydration and a variety of GI complications, such as pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon, which can be fatal. The spores of C. difficile are highly resistant to killing, which makes the organism very challenging to completely eradicate from the body or from the environment.
Key risk factors for development of recurrent CDI include:
- Recent antibiotic use
- Age 65 years or older
- A weakened immune system
- Use of proton pump inhibitors
- Reduced kidney function
Following a first CDI recurrence, the risk of additional recurrences is estimated to be 40% or higher, and these recurrences also tend to occur within the first several weeks after completion of treatment for the preceding episode. Many patients experience three or more recurrences.
500,000
in the U.S.
1/3
165,000
in the U.S.
30,000
~20%+
Role of gut dysbiosis in rCDI
Antibiotics are paradoxically both the first line treatment and a major risk factor for C. difficile infection. Commonly used antibiotics such as cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and clindamycin disrupt the gut microbiome, which impairs colonization resistance, allowing C. difficile to overgrow and cause disease. Once the gut flora has been destroyed, antibiotics are ineffective at managing recurrences.
VE303 for Recurrent
C. difficile Infection
Our lead GI infectious disease program, VE303, is an orally-administered defined bacterial consortium candidate consisting of eight strains of live commensal bacteria for the prevention of rCDI.