C. difficile colonization in infants reshapes gut development, challenging a long-held assumption

Since its discovery, the highly contagious bacterium Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile or C. diff) has been reported not to cause symptoms in infants, leading to the assumption that colonization was not a serious health issue. In a new study, researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are challenging that long-held assumption, with findings suggesting that the bacterium can reshape the developing infant gut and may have long-term consequences. The findings are published in the journal Science.

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