the effect of electromagnetic waves on growth and toxin production of clostridium difficile

introduction: clostridium difficile is the etiologic agent of several infections such as pseudomembranous colitis in human. these diseases are frequently associated with antibiotic useage but many infections with this organisms are seen without antibiotic administration. in addition it is believed that clostridium difficile is one of the most important bacteria involved in acquired hospital infections. therefore it is important to consider physical and chemical factors affecting growth and toxin production of clostridium difficile for control purposes. the aim of this study was to determine different dosages of two kinds of electromagnetic waves: short- wave and macro- wave on clostridium difficile growth and toxin production. material and methods: in this study, cultures of two strains of clostndium difficile (one of them toxigenic and the other nontoxigenic) were exposed to different doses of short-wave and macro-wave radiation for different time periods. the cultures were then incubated for 4 days to study the effect of irradiation on growth and toxin production of the bacteria. the rate of bacterial growth was measured by colony count. toxin production and toxicity assays were performed by cell culture and inoculation of rabbit ilealligated loops. results: macro-wave irradiation had no effect on bacterial growth but inhibited toxin production and induced sporolation of organisms after 10 hours ofincubation. the effect of 30 - 60 minute short- wave irradiation was increased toxin production and bacterial growth. furthermore short- wave irradation of the nontoxigenic clostridium difficile strain changed it into a toxigenic form. conclusion: the results of this study showed that macro- wave irradiation inhibited toxin production but induced sporolation of the organism, while short-wave irradiation increased toxigenic potency of the toxigenic strain and inducedtoxin production by the nontoxigenic strain.