The prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection is increasing worldwide and new treatment strategies are needed. Researchers at MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, investigated the efficacy of treatment with monoclonal antibodies against C. difficile toxins A and B.

This novel treatment deserves further study as a means to reduce the morbidity ... of C. difficile infection...

200 patients with C. difficile infection who were receiving either metronidazole or oral vancomycin were enrolled in this phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomly allocated to receive placebo or CDA1 combined with CDB1 (two fully human monoclonal antibodies against C. difficile toxins A and B, respectively).

The primary end point was recurrence of C. difficile infection. Secondary end points included severity of diarrhea during the initial infection episode, length of hospital stay for the initial episode and failure of antibiotic treatment.

There was no significant difference in antibiotic treatment failure, the severity of diarrhea or length of hospital stay between the two groups.

However, the rate of recurrence of C. difficile infection was significantly lower in the group who received the monoclonal antibodies compared with those who received placebo.

“This novel treatment deserves further study as a means to reduce the morbidity and health care burden of C. difficile infection,” the authors conclude.