Clostridioides difficile biofilms: A mechanism of persistence in the gut?

Biofilms are structured bacterial communities encased in an extracellular matrix. The structure and complexity of biofilms depend on the microorganism and the local environment [1,2]. Biofilms form on tissues and foreign implants during human infections and confer pathogens resistance to drugs and immune responses, making biofilm-associated infections extremely difficult to treat [1]. Clostridioides difficile, a major healthcare-associated gastrointestinal pathogen, causes C. difficile infection (CDI), which is associated with high rates of recurrence, especially in the elderly [3]. CDI is strongly associated with long-term antibiotic therapy, which results in disruption of the native gut microbiota. In recent years, C. difficile biofilms have been considered to be important for persistence of the bacterium in the gut and for recurrent infections. Here we review the current knowledge on C. difficile biofilms in the context of the gut environment and infection.

Automated summary

Biofilms are structured bacterial communities encased in an extracellular matrix, which confer pathogens resistance to drugs and immune responses during human infections. Clostridioides difficile biofilms are considered important for the persistence of the bacterium in the gut and for recurrent infections, especially in the elderly who are associated with high rates of recurrence, due to disruption of the native gut microbiota caused by long-term antibiotic therapy.