Clostridium difficile, an important nosocomial pathogen, produces two toxins. Studies with purified toxins have indicated that only toxin A is important for pathogenesis, but recently it has been suggested that toxin B causes the majority of the disease symptoms in the context of a bacterial infection. These authors demonstrate that both toxins are important for disease and will need to be considered for diagnosis and treatment.
- Sarah A. Kuehne
- Stephen T. Cartman
- Nigel P. Minton