Addressing a difficile problem

Researchers in Ireland and Canada have identified a bacterial peptide with narrow-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Clostridium difficile.¹ The peptide, which is licensed to Alimentary Health Ltd.,could reduce the risk of disease recurrence compared with that of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment because it spares the normal gut flora that helps limit C. difficile growth.

C. difficile is a Gram-positive opportunistic bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal conditions such as diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis after a patient has been treated for unrelated bacterial infections...