Bacteria in the intestines Evolve Become More Malignant

Increased bacterial infection Clostridium difficile last few years more genetic changes caused by these bacteria rather than due to the dirty environment such as in hospitals. Researchers in England found that there are bacteria in the intestine is transformed into increasingly fierce.

Comparison of types of bacteria that have been used to attack the type of bacteria that cause outbreaks at Stoke Mandeville hospital in England in 2003 is different. Because of the kind that causes plague has been found to evolve into a more virulent bacteria, can spread easily and cause more severe symptoms, as reported in Genome Biology Journal.

The bacteria are in fact already present in the intestines of healthy adults for 3 percent and the baby as much as 66 percent. These bacteria are rarely a problem if the normal amount in the body. But if the normal balance of bacteria in the gut is disrupted, such as the use of certain antibiotics can be a major cause of diarrhea.

In the last five years, found a new species of bacterium C.difficile PCR ribotype-027 which can cause a person to experience severe diarrhea and had an average high mortality.

Complete genome analysis of bacterial species that is evolving and old species of bacteria showed that bacteria have a gene that can make it to survive in the environment, spread more easily and cause severe pain. In total, five different genetic regions have been accumulated in the bacteria for some time ago.

"This study may help researchers to understand how the C.difficile bacteria can become very aggressive," said Professor Brendan Wren Chairman of researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, as quoted by the BBC, Monday (28/9/2009).

Brendan Wren added steps hygiene is still needed to prevent people infected with these bacteria, such as washing hands and keeping the number of bacteria remained normal in the gut. C.difficile bacteria all require care and vigilant infection control procedures to reduce infection rates.