Researchers in Montreal say they've cracked the genetic code of a strain of C. difficile that has been causing severe diarrhea outbreaks in Quebec.
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The strain, responsible for infections at hospitals and nursing homes in Quebec, is similar to others found in the U.S. and Europe, the researchers said.
Symptoms include severe diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain.
A virulent strain of C. difficile was blamed directly or indirectly for more than 200 deaths in hospitals in Montreal and Sherbrooke, Que., in the first six months of 2004.
Scientists at McGill University, Génome Québec Innovation Centre, McGill University Health Centre and Jewish General Hospital say they have successfully sequenced the genome of the virulent strain.
The researchers believe the discovery will make it easier to detect, prevent and treat the disease.
The team will begin by searching for antibiotic resistance genes and more information on the toxins produced.
The Quebec strain is resistant to a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, which may have contributed to its spread throughout the province, the researchers said.
P>Scientists in Montreal are closer to finding a cure for the deadly C. difficile bacterium.Researchers say they've cracked the genetic code ... a necessary step to eliminating future outbreaks.
The natural tendency is for the number of cases of C. difficile to go up during the winter months, says Dr. André Dascal.
Hospital staff are better prepared now, Dascal said.
McGill scientist Dr. Ken Dewar is elated that his research team has mapped the C. difficile genome.
"It's like when your baby is born. You're proud and scared at the same time," Dr. Dewar said Wednesday.
He's proud because the bacterium's genetic code will help create more effective screening tests.
Dascal says it will also lead to treatments far more effective than the antibiotic route used now. "In addition, the prevention will be done nicer and faster, if you want. But what this genetic map will also do is make it easer for doctors to know when the c.difficile bacterium has changed. It's done that before ... growing stronger and deadlier ... The hope now is that the map will allow a quicker response to outbreaks of the most virulent strains
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