Scientists developing new antibody 'yoghurt' that can combat a potentially fatal stomach bug affecting thousands of people in hospital each year By Ethan Ennals Published: 01:50, 26 May 2024 | Updated: 02:05, 26 May 2024 e-mail View comments Scientists are developing a peppermint-flavoured 'yogurt' drink which can combat a debilitating and potentially fatal stomach bug which affects thousands of people in hospital every year. Clostridioides difficile – also known as C. diff – is the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea and can be life-threatening for older patients.
Currently the infection is treated with antibiotics, however these medicines are slowly becoming less effective. This means an increasing number of patients see C. diff return, even after taking antibiotics, leading to more deaths.
But in a landmark trial, partly funded by the Government, C. diff patients will be offered a first-of-its-kind medicine designed to combat severe symptoms. The drug, called OraCAb, is a drink taken three times a day which contains defensive antibody cells that seek out C.
diff in the gut. Clostridioides difficile – also known as C. diff – is the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea and can be life-threatening for older patients (stock photo) But in a landmark trial, partly funded by the Government, C.
diff patients will be offered a first-of-its-kind medicine designed to combat severe symptoms (stock photo) Taken alongside a course of antibiotics, OraCAb is not i.
