Clostridium difficile O27 is spreading in Marseille causing severe diarrhea, and even death in the most sensitive. The bacterium is of particular concern because of its pandemic nature.
A wind of panic is currently blowing in Marseille hospitals. Since March 2013, the O27 strain of Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that causes severe diarrhea, is in fact suspected of being the cause of 3 deaths in the Bouches-du-Rhône, according to the Provence Regional Health Agency. -Alpes Cote d’Azur. In addition, 41 people have already been infected with this bacterium. Faced with this observation, the first controversies on the figures begin. According to Professor Didier Raoult, head of the microbiology laboratory in Marseille hospitals, “the number of deaths would be higher. »Contacted by whyctor, che Marseille virologist confides his concerns about the O27 toxin from Clostridium difficile, which is “very contagious” and has “a high pandemic potential. “
The resistance of the strain to antibiotics: a therapeutic problem
Prof. Didier Raoult: Clostridium difficile O27 is a problem for physicians because it is multidrug-resistant bacteria. Faced with a case of infection, health professionals may have a therapeutic concern, because very often, there is only one effective antibiotic: colimycin. Unfortunately, one can also become resistant to this antibiotic very quickly. We have several strains of this bacterium, which come from Israel for example, which have become completely resistant to all types of antibiotics. In this case, we are really at a therapeutic impasse.
The 027 toxin is epidemic, even pandemic
Prof. Didier Raoult: There is one clone, a mutant, among all Clostridium difficile that has a toxin, which is called “O27”. It appeared a little over ten years ago, and worries scientists because it is epidemic, or even pandemic. It is very contagious and that is why it has reached the whole world. In addition, strain O27 is very often associated with high mortality. We still have a death rate of 30% with the first cases reported in France. It is an agent of epidemic and therefore of global pandemic. He had so far spared France, except for an episode of cases in Lille in 2006, which had all the same caused 23 deaths in the end. Since then, he had disappeared, without being able to explain too much how or why. And there he reappeared.
The PACA regional health agency behind on the number of suspicious deaths?
Prof. Didier Raoult: We, from our data, know that there have already been six deaths at the Marseille University Hospital, which could be linked to Clostridium difficile O27. And, with my contacts in retirement homes, we were also informed of two new deaths in some of these establishments in the PACA region. So, at a minimum, the toll has already reached 8 deaths. But, during a death linked to a bacterium, the problem is always the same, it is that of imputability. Each time, Clostridium difficile is one of the cofactors of death, associated with advanced age and various already existing pathologies.
Why is the PACA region the only one affected?
Prof. Didier Raoult: Regarding Clostridium difficile, we are the only ones in Marseille to look for them because we are very advanced technically. For the moment, the detection of the O27 strain is not reimbursed. In PACA, we do it because we are the best center for epidemic detection in France. But this bacteria probably exists in many other areas, but it is likely that no one knows about it. Finally, Marseille is a crossroads of population which agitates a lot of people. These flows of people obviously promote the spread of viruses.
.
