How new antibiotic resistance in C. difficile affects treatment
Official title: Decoding the clinical impact of the recent evolution of metronidazole resistance on Clostridium difficile infection.
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11262328 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how recent changes that make C. difficile resistant to metronidazole and vancomycin could affect people with C. difficile infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2018 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $747,884 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI139261-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262328 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a confirmed C. difficile infection, especially those with severe, recurrent, or treatment-resistant cases, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without C. difficile infection or whose infections respond quickly to standard antibiotics are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If I have C. difficile, researchers will compare bacteria taken from patients to find genetic changes that make the bugs resistant to metronidazole and vancomycin. They will analyze bacterial genomes, run lab tests that mimic drug levels in the colon, and review clinical records to link resistance patterns to patient outcomes. The study uses bacterial samples from infected people and hospital data to understand why some strains cause worse or recurring infections. That work could point to clearer antibiotic choices and ways to limit spread of dangerous strains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors pick antibiotics that work better and reduce severe or recurrent C. difficile infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have identified resistant C. difficile strains and linked some resistance to worse outcomes, but this project aims to detail the specific resistance mechanisms and their clinical effects.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hurdle, Julian G — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hurdle, Julian G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how metronidazole resistance affects Clostridium difficile infections.
This study is looking into why some Clostridium difficile infections don't respond to a common treatment called metronidazole, and it aims to help patients by figuring out how these resistant strains work so doctors can find better ways to treat them.
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Investigating Clostridium difficile infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
This study is looking at how Clostridium difficile infections can impact people with inflammatory bowel disease, aiming to find out why these infections happen more often and come back in these patients, so we can improve their treatment and care.
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Orally ingested yeast designed to express a tetra-specific anti-toxin for Clostridioides difficile safety study
This first-in-human trial tests a yeast-based medicine (FZ002) to see if it is safe and tolerable for adults with no active infection, using a placebo for comparison.
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Oral vancomycin to prevent C. difficile infection in critically ill adults
This trial sees if taking oral vancomycin can prevent C. difficile infection in critically ill adults who are receiving systemic antibiotics.
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Investigating Clostridium Difficile Infection in Infants
This study looks at how common Clostridium difficile infections are in infants and what factors might increase the risk, to help improve diagnosis and treatment for these young patients.
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Investigating factors related to Clostridioides difficile infection recurrence
This study is trying to find out how certain body factors, like gut bacteria and genetics, affect the chances of Clostridioides difficile infection coming back in adults who have already been diagnosed with it.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.