Toxin A-producing Clostridium difficile as an aetiological factor of post-traumatic wound infection

J Med Microbiol. 2009 Jul;58(Pt 7):963-964. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.008797-0. Epub 2009 Jun 5.

Abstract

Clostridium difficile is a well-known cause of hospital-acquired infection such as antibiotic associated diarrhoea or pseudomembranous colitis. Extraintestinal infections caused by this pathogen are described rarely. A case of post-traumatic wound infection caused by C. difficile in an immunocompetent, young and otherwise healthy trauma patient is reported. A 31-year-old female, a car accident victim, was admitted to hospital because of polytrauma. After open reduction and internal fixation of a supracondylar femoral fracture by means of the dynamic condylar screw (DCS) system, a purulent fistula occurred. Microbiological examination of the pus revealed C. difficile as the single aetiological factor of this infection. Empirical antibiotic treatment with cefazoline and metronidazole had been administered right after the surgery, but was found to be ineffective. The strain isolated from the patient was sensitive to most antimicrobials except for clindamycin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was chosen for the guided therapy. Such treatment combined with the removal of the DCS system produced a desirable effect.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Toxins / biosynthesis*
  • Bone Screws
  • Clostridioides difficile / drug effects
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
  • Clostridioides difficile / metabolism*
  • Clostridium Infections / drug therapy
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology*
  • Enterotoxins / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Femoral Fractures / complications
  • Femoral Fractures / surgery*
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / adverse effects
  • Hip Fractures / complications
  • Hip Fractures / surgery
  • Humans
  • Multiple Trauma / complications*
  • Multiple Trauma / surgery
  • Surgical Wound Infection / drug therapy
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Enterotoxins
  • tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile