The Impact of Diet on Clostridioides difficile Infection: A Review

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile poses a significant public health challenge as it is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. C. difficile’s metabolism and pathogenesis are strongly influenced by nutrient availability from the host and gut commensals. This has caused increasing interest in dietary intake and diet-derived metabolites’ role in C. difficile infection (CDI). Although much of the data currently originates from animal models, there is growing evidence of the ability of diet to impact CDI-related outcomes. This review aims to enrich the understanding of dietary components that impact C. difficile metabolism and pathogenesis, as well as provide limitations in the current science to support future inquiry. Without a better understanding of the influence of diet on CDI in the human host, we lack a non-pharmacologic approach to prevent and treat this important condition.