Activity of vancomycin against epidemic Clostridium difficile strains in a human gut model

Abstract

Bacteriological response to vancomycin varies between strains causing CDI, possibly correlating with the extent of germination capacity. Vancomycin effectively reduced vegetative forms and cytotoxin titres of both of the epidemic C. difficile PCR ribotypes evaluated, but showed no anti-spore activity. Comparison with the results of a previous gut model study showed that vancomycin was more effective than metronidazole in reducing C. difficile PCR ribotype 027 numbers and cytotoxin titres.