Epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections

Principal investigator(s)
Prof. Dr. E.J. (Ed) Kuijper

Description of the research

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Clostridium difficile, a Gram positive, spore forming, anaerobic rod shaped bacterium, is the main cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Over 400 different PCR ribotypes (type) can be recognized, each with different microbiological  characteristics and specific clinical and epidemiological features. The department of Medical Microbiology serves as a National Reference Laboratory to coordinate and participate in a C. difficile infection (CDI) surveillance programme in the Netherlands and in Europe. Therefore, the laboratory intensively collaborates with the Centre for Infectious Disease Control at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Because C. difficile responses less well to conventional treatment, novel therapeutic strategies are necessary. Immunological approaches are being investigated in our laboratory, mainly focussing on toxin-binding proteins and the role of the microbiome in CDI.

Research objectives

  • Develop new rapid diagnostic tests and typing techniques for CDI
  • Monitor the epidemiology of CDI in the Netherlands, and study the relatedness of CDI in humans and animals
  • Enhance the laboratory capacity for detection and surveillance of CDI in Europe, and build up and maintain a European C. difficile ribotyping nomenclature reference database
  • Develop new treatment strategies for CDI and its recurrences 

Key publications

Research group

  • Celine Harmanus, BSc - Technician
  • Ed Kuijper, MD, PhD - Medical microbiologist
  • Ingrid Sanders, BSc - Technician
  • Monique Crobach, MD, PhD - Infectious disease specialist
  • Sofie van Dorp, MD - PhD student

Collaborators

  • Dr. O. Dekkers (Epidemiologist, LUMC, the Netherlands)
  • Prof. J. van Dissel (Professor of Infectious Diseases, LUMC, the Netherlands)
  • Dr. D. Notermans (Medical Microbiologist, RIVM, the Netherlands)
  • Dr. Sabine de Greeff (Epidemiologist, RIVM, the Netherlands)
  • Dr. Carl Suetens (Medical Epidemiologist, ECDC, Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Prof. M. Wilcox, (Microbiologist, Leeds University, UK)