Economic burden of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea: a cost-of-illness study from a German tertiary care hospital

Estimating excess mortality and economic burden of Clostridioides difficile infections and recurrences during 2015-2019: the RECUR Germany study

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) and recurrences (rCDIs) remain a major public health challenge due to substantial mortality and associated costs. This study aims to generate real-world evidence on the mortality and economic burden of CDI in Germany using claims data between 2015 and 2019.

METHODS

A longitudinal and matched cohort study using retrospective data from Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) was conducted in Germany with the BKK database. Adults diagnosed with CDI in hospital and community settings between 2015 and 2018 were included in the study. Patients had a minimum follow-up of 12-months. All-cause mortality was described at 6-, 12-, and 24-months. Healthcare resource usage (HCRU) and associated costs were assessed at 12-months of follow-up. A cohort of non-CDI patients matched by demographic and clinical characteristics was used to assess excess mortality and incremental costs of HCRU. Up to three non-CDI patients were matched to each CDI patient.

RESULTS

A total of 9,977 CDI patients were included in the longitudinal cohort. All-cause mortality was 32%, 39% and 48% at 6-, 12-, and 24-months, respectively, with minor variations by number of rCDIs. When comparing matched CDI (n = 5,618) and non-CDI patients (n = 16,845), CDI patients had an excess mortality of 2.17, 1.35, and 0.94 deaths per 100 patient-months, respectively. HCRU and associated costs were consistently higher in CDI patients compared to non-CDI patients and increased with recurrences. Total mean and median HCRU cost per patient during follow-up was €12,893.56 and €6,050 in CDI patients, respectively, with hospitalisations representing the highest proportion of costs. A total mean incremental cost per patient of €4,101 was estimated in CDI patients compared to non-CDI patients, increasing to €13,291 in patients with ≥ 3 rCDIs.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world study conducted in Germany, CDI was associated with increased risk of death and substantial costs to health systems due to higher HCRU, especially hospitalisations. HCRU and associated costs were exacerbated by rCDIs.

A Retrospective Budget Impact Analysis of Fidaxomicin Treatment for Clostridioides difficile Infections (CDI) in Germany

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile is the most common cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea. Research suggests that treating C. difficile infections (CDI) with fidaxomicin (FDX) is more effective than vancomycin (VAN), with potential cost savings. The objective was to calculate the budget impact of FDX treatment compared to VAN from a German payer perspective.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The analysis used real-world data of patients discharged from University Hospital Cologne between Jan-01-2018 and Dec-31-2019. We identified recurrent and non-recurrent CDI cases and calculated direct treatment costs based on G-DRG flat rates. To calculate average costs per treatment and the budget impact, recurrence probabilities for VAN and FDX were taken from published evidence (28-day and 90-day scenarios).

RESULTS

Totally, 475 cases were analyzed, thereof 421 non-recurrent, causing mean costs of €32,901 per case (95% CI: 27.752-38.050). Thirty-two patients experienced a recurrence within 28 days, yielding mean costs of €10,952 (95% CI: 5.627-16.277) for their additional hospital stay. The resulting budget impact was €1,303 (95% CI: 670 - 1.937) in favor of FDX, ranging from €148.34 to €2,190.30 in scenario analyses.

CONCLUSION

The analysis indicates FDX treatment can lead to cost savings compared to VAN. Future research should focus on specific patient groups, such as refractory CDI patients.

Derivation of clinical predictive factors (CHIEF) for first recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection

BACKGROUND

Current models for predicting Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence rates have a limited capacity to account for important risk factors. This study developed a clinical prediction rule for CDI recurrence.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study evaluated 209 patients with CDI at a university hospital in Japan. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to identify potential predictors (age, sex, underlying diseases, antibiotic use, acid suppressants, immunosuppressants, CDI history) of CDI recurrence.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients developed recurrent CDI. Univariate analyses identified several significant recurrence predictors (enteral feeding, inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD], community-onset CDI, severe CDI). Enteral feeding (odds ratio: 3.87, 95% confidence interval: 1.75-8.56) and IBD (odds ratio: 7.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-39.06) were significant factors in the multivariate analysis. The CHIEF predictive scoring system was developed using 5 relevant variables (carbapenem use, hematologic malignancy, IBD, enteral feeding, fluoroquinolone use); the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the CHIEF score was 0.70.

DISCUSSION

The CHIEF score incorporates useful, clinically available factors and could help identify patients at risk of recurrent CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings contribute to the understanding of risk factors associated with CDI recurrence and provide support for the development of prevention strategies.

Trends in the epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection in Germany

PURPOSES

Despite reports of a declining incidence over the last decade, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is still considered the most important healthcare-associated causes of diarrhea worldwide. In Germany, several measures have been taken to observe, report, and influence this development. This report aims to analyze the development of hospital coding for CDI in Germany over the last decade and to use it to estimate the public health burden caused by CDI.

METHODS

Reports from the Institute for Hospital Remuneration Systems, German Federal Statistical Office (DESTATIS), the Robert-Koch-Institute (RKI), Saxonian authorities and hospital quality reports during 2010-2021 were examined for CDI coding and assessed in a structured expert consultation. Analysis was performed using 2019 versions of Microsoft Excel® and Microsoft Access®.

RESULTS

Peaks of 32,203 cases with a primary diagnosis (PD) of CDI and 78,648 cases with a secondary diagnosis (SD) of CDI were observed in 2015. The number of cases had decreased to 15,412 PD cases (- 52.1%) and 40,188 SD cases (- 48.9%) by 2021. These results were paralleled by a similar decline in notifiable severe cases. However, average duration of hospitalization of the cases remained constant during this period.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital coding of CDI and notification to authorities has approximately halved from 2015 to 2021. Potential influential factors include hospital hygiene campaigns, implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs, social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a decrease in more pathogenic subtypes of bacteria. Further research is necessary to validate the multiple possible drivers for this development.

Impact of testing on Clostridioides difficile infection in hospitals across Europe: a mathematical model

OBJECTIVES

The prevalence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has been shown to vary markedly between European countries, both in hospitals and in the community. Determining the true prevalence has proven challenging. Without systematic testing in hospitals, the unchecked transmission of CDI can lead to large outbreaks in more susceptible cohorts. We investigate the success of CDI surveillance and control measures across Europe, by examining the dynamics of disease spread from the community into a hospital setting. We focus on national differences, such as variability in testing and sampling, disease prevalence in communities and hospitals, and antimicrobial usage.

METHODS

We developed a stochastic, compartmental, dynamic mathematical model parameterized using sampling and testing rate data from COMBACTE-CDI, a multicountry study in which all diarrhoeal stool samples (N = 3163) from European laboratories were tested for CDI, and data for antimicrobial usage and incidence of hospital cases sourced from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

RESULTS

The framework estimates the prevalence of CDI among hospital patients across European countries and explores how national differences impact the dynamics, transmission, and relative incidence of CDI within the hospital setting. The model illustrates the mechanisms influencing these national differences, namely, antimicrobial usage rates, national sampling and testing rates, and community prevalence of CDI.

DISCUSSION

Differential costs for testing and practicalities of scaling up testing mean every country needs to consider balancing CDI testing costs against the costs of treatment and care of patients with CDI.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI): A pan-European multi-center cost and resource utilization study, results from the Combatting Bacterial Resistance in Europe CDI (COMBACTE-CDI)

OBJECTIVES

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the leading nosocomial infections worldwide, resulting in a significantly increasing burden on the healthcare systems. However, Pan-European data about cost and resource utilization of CDI treatment do not exist.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis within the Combatting Bacterial Resistance in Europe CDI project was conducted based on resource costs for inpatient treatment and productivity costs. Country-specific cost values were converted to EURO referred to 1 January, 2019 values. Differences in price levels for healthcare services among the participating countries were adjusted by using an international approach of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. As the study focused on patients with recurrent CDI, the observed study population was categorized into (a) patients with CDI but without CDI recurrence (case group), (b) patients with CDI recurrence (recurrence group), and (c) patients without CDI (control group).

RESULTS

Overall, 430 hospitalized patients from 12 European countries were included into the analysis between July 2018 and November 2018. Distribution of mean hospital length of stay and mean overall costs per patient between the case group, recurrence group, and control group were as follows: 22 days (95% CI 17-27 days) vs. 55 days (95% CI 17-94 days) vs. 26 days (95% CI 22-31 days; p 0.008) and € 15 242 (95% CI 10 593-19 891) vs. € 52 024 (95% CI 715-103 334) vs. € 21 759 (95% CI 16 484-27 035; p 0.010), respectively. The CDI recurrence rate during the observational period was 18%. Change escalation in CDI medication (OR 3.735) and treatment in an intensive care unit (OR 5.454) were found to be the most important variables associated with increased overall costs of patients with CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of patients with recurrent CDI results in a significant burden. Prevention of CDI recurrences should be in focus of daily patient care to identify the most cost-effective treatment strategy.

A budget impact analysis of bezlotoxumab versus standard of care antibiotics only in patients at high risk of CDI recurrence from a hospital management perspective in Germany

Background

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the leading nosocomial infections, resulting in increased hospital length of stay and additional treatment costs. Bezlotoxumab, the first monoclonal antibody against CDI, has an 1 A guideline recommendation for prevention of CDI, after randomized clinical trials demonstrated its superior efficacy vs. placebo.

Methods

The budget impact analysis at hand is focused on patients at high risk of CDI recurrence. Treatment with standard of care (SoC) + bezlotoxumab was compared with current SoC alone in the 10 most associated Diagnosis Related Groups to identify, analyze, and evaluate potential cost savings per case from the German hospital management perspective. Based on variation in days to rehospitalization, three different case consolidation scenarios were assessed: no case consolidation, case consolidation for the SoC + bezlotoxumab treatment arm only, and case consolidation for both treatment arms.

Results

On average, the budget impact amounted to € 508.56 [range: € 424.85 - € 642.19] for no case consolidation, € 470.50 [range: € 378.75 - € 601.77] for case consolidation in the SoC + bezlotoxumab treatment arm, and € 618.00 [range: € 557.40 - € 758.41] for case consolidation in both treatment arms.

Conclusions

The study demonstrated administration of SoC + bezlotoxumab in patients at high risk of CDI recurrence is cost-saving from a hospital management perspective. Reduced length of stay in bezlotoxumab treated patients creates free spatial and personnel capacities for the treating hospital. Yet, a requirement for hospitals to administer bezlotoxumab is the previously made request for additional fees and a successful price negotiation.

The Economic Burden of Clostridioides difficile in Denmark: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to make a comprehensive economic assessment of the costs of hospital-acquired C. difficile infections (CDI).

Methods: We carried out a retrospective matched cohort study utilizing Danish registry data with national coverage to identify CDI cases and matched reference patients without CDI (controls) for economic burden assessment in Denmark covering 2011–2014. Health care costs and public transfer costs were obtained from national registries, and calculated for 1 year prior to, and 2 years after index admission using descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

Results: The study included 12,768 CDI patients and 23,272 matched controls. The total health care cost was significantly larger for CDI cases than controls throughout all periods. During the index admission period, cost was €12,867 per CDI case compared to €4,522 (p < 0.001) for controls, which increased to an average of €31,388 and €19,512 (p < 0.001) in Year 1 for the two groups, respectively. Excess costs were found both among infections with onset in hospitals and in the community. Diagnosis compatible with complications increased costs to on average >€91,000 per case. The regression analysis showed that CDI adds a substantial economic burden, but only explains about 1/3 of the crude difference observed in the matched analysis.

Discussion: The major economic impact of hospital-acquired CDI with complications underlines the importance of preventing complications in these patients. Our study provides an informed estimate of the potential economic gain per patient by successful intervention, which is likely to be relatively comparable across countries.

Analysis of C. difficile infection-related outcomes in European participants in the bezlotoxumab MODIFY I and II trials

The MODIFY I/II trials demonstrated that bezlotoxumab, a human monoclonal antibody against Clostridioides difficile toxin B, given during antibiotic treatment for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) significantly reduced C. difficile recurrence (rCDI) in adults at high risk for rCDI. Efficacy of CDI-directed intervention may depend on ribotype regional epidemiology, and patient characteristics. This post hoc analysis assessed the efficacy of bezlotoxumab in the subgroup of MODIFY I/II trial participants enrolled in Europe. Data from the bezlotoxumab (10 mg/kg single intravenous infusion) and placebo (0.9% saline) groups from MODIFY I/II were compared to assess initial clinical cure (ICC), rCDI, all-cause, and CDI-associated rehospitalizations within 30 days of discharge, and mortality through 12 weeks post-infusion. Of 1554 worldwide participants, 606 were from Europe (bezlotoxumab n = 313, 51%; placebo n = 292; 48%). Baseline characteristics were generally similar across groups, although there were more immunocompromised participants in the bezlotoxumab group (27.2%) compared with placebo (20.1%). Fifty-five percent of participants were female, and 86% were hospitalized at randomization. The rate of ICC was similar between treatment groups. The rate of rCDI in the bezlotoxumab group was lower compared with placebo among European participants overall, and among those with ≥ 1 risk factor for rCDI. Bezlotoxumab reduced 30-day CDI-associated rehospitalizations compared with placebo. These results are consistent with overall results from the MODIFY trials and demonstrate that bezlotoxumab reduces rCDI and CDI-associated rehospitalizations in European patients with CDI. MODIFY I/II (NCT01241552 and NCT01513239)

Cost burden of Clostridioides difficile infection to the health service: A retrospective cohort study in Scotland

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with high healthcare demands and related costs.

AIM

To evaluate the healthcare and economic burden of CDI in hospitalized patients with community- (HOCA-CDI) or hospital-associated CDI (HOHA-CDI) in the National Health Service in Scotland.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, examining data between August 2010 and July 2013 from four patient-level Scottish datasets, linked to death data. Data examined included prior antimicrobial prescriptions in the community, hospitalizations, length of stay and mortality. Each CDI case was matched to three hospital-based controls on the basis of age, gender, hospital and date of admission. Descriptive economic evaluations were based on bed-day costs for different types of wards.

FINDINGS

Overall, 3304 CDI cases were included in the study. CDI was associated with additional median lengths of stay of 7.2 days for HOCA-CDI and 12.0 days for HOHA-CDI compared with their respective, matched controls. The 30-day mortality rate was 6.8% for HOCA-CDI and 12.4% for HOHA-CDI. Overall, recurrence within 90 days of the first CDI episode occurred in 373/2740 (13.6%) survivors. The median additional expenditure for each initial CDI case compared with matched controls was £1713. In the 6 months after the index hospitalization, the cost associated with a CDI case was £5126 higher than for controls.

CONCLUSION

Using routinely collected national data, we demonstrated the substantial burden of CDI on healthcare services, including lengthy hospital stays and readmissions, which increased the costs of managing patients with CDI compared with matched controls.

The economic burden of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with hematological malignancies in the United States: A case-control study

OBJECTIVE

The primary study aim was to describe all direct healthcare costs associated with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), both in and out of the hospital, in patients with hematologic malignancies in the United States.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing data from US databases of Truven Health Analytics.

PATIENTS

We analyzed health insurance claims between January 2014 and December 2017 of patients diagnosed with hematological cancer: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

METHODS

Patients with CDI after cancer diagnosis (CDI+, cases) were matched with patients without CDI reported (CDI-, controls). Matched cases and controls were compared to identify the CDI-associated costs in the 90 days following the onset of CDI.

RESULTS

We matched 622 CDI+ patients with 11,111 CDI- patients. NHL (41.7%) and AML (30.9%) were the predominant underlying diseases in the CDI+ groups. During study period, the average time in-hospital of CDI+ patients was 23.1 days longer than for CDI- patients (P < 2×10-16). Overall, CDI onset increased costs of care by an average of US$57,159 per patient (P = 6×10-12), mainly driven by hospital costs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the significant economic burden associated with CDI in the United States, especially in patients with hematological malignancies. These findings highlight the need for prevention of CDI in this specific patient population.

One Health approach to Clostridioides difficile in Japan

Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) are predominantly a healthcare-associated illness in developed countries, with the majority of cases being elderly and hospitalize patients who used antibiotic therapy. Recently, the incidence of community-associated CDIs (CA-CDIs) in younger patients without a previous history of hospitalization or antibiotic treatment has been increasing globally. C. difficile is sometimes found in the intestine of many animals, such as pigs, calves, and dogs. Food products such as retail meat products and vegetables sometimes contain C. difficile. C. difficile has also been isolated from several environments such as compost manure, rivers, and soils. Yet, direct transmission of C. difficile from animals, food products, and environments to humans has not been proven, although these strains have similar molecular characteristics. Therefore, it has been suggested that there is a relationship between CA-CDIs and C. difficile from animals, food products, and the environment. To clarify the importance of the presence of C. difficile in several sources, characterization of C. difficile in these sources is required. However, the epidemiology of C. difficile in animals, food products, and the environment is not well studied in Japan. This review summarizes recent trends of CDIs and compares the molecular characteristics of C. difficile in Japanese animals, food products, and the environment. The prevalence trends of C. difficile in Japan are similar to those in the rest of the world. Therefore, I recommend using a One Health approach to CDI surveillance, monitoring, and control.

Exploratory Evaluation of Bezlotoxumab on Outcomes Associated With Clostridioides difficile Infection in MODIFY I/II Participants With Cancer

Background

The incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is reportedly higher and the cure rate lower in individuals with cancer vs those without cancer. An exploratory post hoc analysis of the MODIFY I/II trials (NCT01241552/NCT01513239) investigated how bezlotoxumab affected the rate of CDI-related outcomes in participants with cancer.

Methods

Participants received a single infusion of bezlotoxumab (10 mg/kg) or placebo during anti-CDI antibacterial treatment. A post hoc analysis of CDI-related outcomes was conducted in subgroups of MODIFY I/II participants with and without cancer.

Results

Of 1554 participants in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population, 382 (24.6%) were diagnosed with cancer (bezlotoxumab 190, placebo 192). Of participants without cancer, 591 and 581 received bezlotoxumab and placebo, respectively. In the placebo group, initial clinical cure (ICC) was achieved by fewer cancer participants vs participants without cancer (71.9% vs 83.1%; absolute difference, -11.3%; 95% CI, -18.6% to -4.5%); however, CDI recurrence (rCDI) rates were similar in cancer (30.4%) and noncancer (34.0%) participants. In participants with cancer, bezlotoxumab treatment had no effect on ICC rate compared with placebo (76.8% vs 71.9%), but resulted in a statistically significant reduction in rCDI vs placebo (17.8% vs 30.4%; absolute difference, -12.6%; 95% CI, -22.5% to -2.7%).

Conclusions

In this post hoc analysis of participants with cancer enrolled in MODIFY I/II, the rate of rCDI in bezlotoxumab-treated participants was lower than in placebo-treated participants. Additional studies are needed to confirm these results.

Clinical Trial Registration

MODIFY I (NCT01241552), MODIFY II (NCT01513239).

Attributable Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs for Patients With Primary and Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in the United States

Background

The economic burden of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), the leading cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea, is not well understood. The objective of this study was to estimate the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs attributable to primary CDI and recurrent CDI (rCDI).

Methods

This is a database (MarketScan) study. Patients without CDI were matched 1:1 by propensity score to those with primary CDI but no recurrences to obtain HCRU and costs attributable to primary CDI. Patients with primary CDI but no recurrences were matched 1:1 by propensity score to those with primary CDI plus 1 recurrence in order to obtain HCRU and costs attributable to rCDI. Adjusted estimates for incremental cumulative hospitalized days and healthcare costs over a 6-month follow-up period were obtained by generalized linear models with a Poisson or gamma distribution and a log link. Bootstrapping was used to obtain 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

A total of 55504 eligible CDI patients were identified. Approximately 25% of these CDI patients had rCDI. The cumulative hospitalized days attributable to primary CDI and rCDI over the 6-month follow-up period were 5.20 days (95% CI, 5.01–5.39) and 1.95 days (95% CI, 1.48–2.43), respectively. The healthcare costs attributable to primary CDI and rCDI over the 6-month follow-up period were $24205 (95% CI, $23436–$25013) and $10580 (95% CI, $8849–$12446), respectively.

Conclusions

The HCRU and costs attributable to primary CDI and rCDI are quite substantial. It is necessary to reduce the burden of CDI, especially rCDI.

Fidaxomicin compared with vancomycin and metronidazole for the treatment of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection: A network meta-analysis

We conducted a systematic review of the literature and network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the relative effectiveness of antibiotic treatments for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) including vancomycin (VCM), metronidazole (MTZ) and fidaxomicin (FDX). Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) including adults with any severity of CDI that was treated with VCM, MTZ or FDX. The NMA was performed using a Bayesian framework, using a fixed-effects model. The searches identified seven publications for inclusion, which provided five RCTs for VCM versus MTZ, and three RCTs for FDX versus VCM. The NMA showed that for clinical cure rate, there was no difference for FDX versus VCM, and there was a significant difference in favour of FDX versus MTZ (odds ratio [OR]: 1.77; 95% credible interval [CrI] 1.11, 2.83]). For recurrence rate, there was a significant difference in favour of FDX versus both VCM (OR: 0.50; 95% CrI: 0.37, 0.68) and MTZ (OR: 0.44; 95% CrI: 0.27, 0.72). For sustained cure (clinical cure without recurrence), there was a significant difference in favour of FDX versus VCM (OR: 1.61; 95% CrI: 1.27, 2.05) and MTZ (OR: 2.39; 95% CrI: 1.65, 3.47). These findings suggest that FDX and VCM are effective first-line treatments for mild or moderate CDI, whereas MTZ is not, and FDX may be more effective at preventing CDI recurrence than VCM.

Healthcare resource use and attributable cost of Clostridium difficile infection: a micro-costing analysis comparing first and recurrent episodes

Objectives

Accurate and sufficiently detailed data on the economic burden of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are lacking. We performed a micro-costing study to determine the health resource utilization of patients with a first episode of CDI (fCDI) and those with a recurrent episode of CDI (rCDI).

Patients and methods

Forty-five adult and paediatric inpatients with rCDI were matched by age, sex and date of diagnosis with control patients with fCDI. Total length of hospital stay, length of stay in the ICU and several cost parameters differentiated into fixed and variable components were measured and compared across both groups.

Results

The mean total length of stay for rCDI patients was 33 days (95% CI 19-46) compared with 17 days (95% CI 12-21) for fCDI patients; P = 0.0259. ICU length of stay was also longer for rCDI patients than for fCDI patients (mean 2.5 versus 0.7 days). Mean total variable costs for fCDI and rCDI were £2382 (95% CI 1750-3014) and £4683 (95% CI 3051-6311), respectively; P = 0.009. Mean fixed costs for fCDI and rCDI were £10 328 (95% CI 7555-13 101) and £26 438 (95% CI 16 135-36 742), respectively; P = 0.003. Mean total costs for fCDI and rCDI were £12 710 (95% CI 9652-15 769) and £31 121 (95% CI 19 792-42 447), respectively; P < 0.002.

Conclusions

The healthcare resource use and financial burden attributable to CDI is significant. Most excess cost is driven by additional length of hospital stay. These costs may have been underestimated in previous studies that have not accounted for several difficult-to-measure parameters or have used averaged tariff-based estimates.

Cost savings following faecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection

BACKGROUND

Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI) is becoming increasingly common. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is effective for rCDI, but the costs of an FMT and hospital cost savings related to FMT are unknown. The aim of this study was to calculate the cost of an FMT and the total hospital costs before and after FMT.

METHODS

This was an observational single-centre study, carried out in a public teaching hospital. We included all patients referred for rCDI from January 2014 through December 2015 and documented costs related to donor screening, laboratory processing, and clinical FMT application. We calculated patient-related hospital costs 1 year before FMT (pre-FMT) and 1 year after FMT (post-FMT). Sensitivity analyses were applied to assess the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

We included 50 consecutive adult patients who had a verified diagnosis of rCDI and were referred for FMT. The average cost of an outpatient FMT procedure if donor faeces were applied by colonoscopy was €3,326 per patient and €2,864 if donor faeces were applied using a nasojejunal tube. The total annual pre-FMT hospital costs per patient were €56,415 (95% confidence interval (CI) 41,133-71,697), and these costs dropped by 42% to €32,816 (22,618-42,014) post-FMT (p = 0.004). The main cost driver was hospital admissions. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated cost reductions in all scenarios.

CONCLUSIONS

In a public hospital with an implemented FMT service, the average cost of FMT applied by either colonoscopy or nasojejunal tube was €3,095. Total hospital costs dropped by 42% the first year after FMT. The reduction was mainly caused by reductions in the number of hospital admissions and in length of stay.

Dysbiosis in early sepsis can be modulated by a multispecies probiotic: a randomised controlled pilot trial

The gut is hypothesised to play an important role in the development and progression of sepsis. It is however unknown whether the gut microbiome and the gut barrier function is already altered early in sepsis development and whether it is possible to modulate the microbiome in early sepsis. Therefore, a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to examine the alterations of the microbiome and the gut barrier in early sepsis and the influence of a concomitant probiotic intervention on dysbiosis at this early stage of the disease was conducted. Patients with early sepsis, defined as fulfilling the sepsis definition from the 2012 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines but without signs of organ failure, received multispecies probiotic (Winclove 607 based on Omnibiotic® 10 AAD) for 28 days. Gut microbiome composition, function, gut barrier and bacterial translocation were studied. Patients with early sepsis had a significantly lower structural and functional alpha diversity, clustered differently and showed structural alterations on all taxonomic levels. Gut permeability was unaltered but endotoxin, endotoxin binding proteins and peptidoglycans were elevated in early sepsis patients compared to controls. Probiotic intervention successfully increased probiotic strains in stool and led to an improvement of functional diversity. Microbiome composition and function are altered in early sepsis. Probiotic intervention successfully modulates the microbiome and is therefore a promising tool for early intervention in sepsis.

Bezlotoxumab Is Associated With a Reduction in Cumulative Inpatient-Days: Analysis of the Hospitalization Data From the MODIFY I and II Clinical Trials

Background

Patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI) are more likely to have a hospital readmission and spend increased time in inpatient settings compared with patients with primary CDI. MODIFY I and II demonstrated that bezlotoxumab significantly reduced rCDI vs placebo. A post hoc within-trial analysis assessed whether bezlotoxumab was associated with a reduction in cumulative inpatient-days.

Methods

Data were pooled from the MODIFY trials to estimate the cumulative hospitalized days summed over the 84-day follow-up period. We adjusted inpatient use data from pooled MODIFY I and II for survival and censoring to estimate 84-day cumulative inpatient-days, overall and for subgroups. Treatment effects were obtained using recycled predictions based on trial protocol and rCDI risk, and 95% confidence intervals were obtained using 1000 bootstrap replicates.

Results

Mean cumulative inpatient-days were greater in the placebo arm (14.1 days) vs the bezlotoxumab arm (12.1 days) in the overall population. The mean difference between treatment groups was 2.1 days (95% confidence interval, –0.4 to –3.7). This was consistent in participants with risk factors for rCDI: age ≥65 years, compromised immunity, severe CDI, prior CDI, and ribotype 027/078/244 infection. As the number of risk factors increased, bezlotoxumab resulted in greater reductions in the number of inpatient-days compared with placebo (difference: –1.2 days, –2.3 days, –2.5 days, and –3.0 days for 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 risk factors, respectively).

Conclusions

Bezlotoxumab was associated with a reduction in cumulative inpatient-days, suggesting that treatment with bezlotoxumab may substantially reduce rCDI-associated health care resource use.

Trial registrations. MODIFY I (MK-3415A-001, NCT01241552) and II (MK-3415A-002, NCT01513239)

Inpatient Expenditures Attributable to Hospital-Onset Clostridium difficile Infection: A Nationwide Case-Control Study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) have a considerable clinical and economic impact on patients and payers. Quantifying the economic impact of CDIs can guide treatment strategies. However, previous studies have generally focused on acute care hospitals, and few have included cost estimates from non-acute care hospitals such as long-term care facilities.

AIM

This study aimed to quantify the hospital-onset CDI-attributable inpatient expenditures and length-of-stay durations in all healthcare institutions that provide inpatient care (including acute and non-acute care) in Japan.

METHODS

Using national-level insurance claims data, we analyzed patients who had been hospitalized between April 2010 and December 2016. CDI cases were identified and matched with non-CDI controls using hospitalization year, treating hospital, age, sex, surgical procedure, comorbidities, and main diagnoses. Through multivariable regression analyses, we estimated the CDI-attributable inpatient expenditures (2016 US dollars) and length-of-stay durations (days) while adjusting for variations in factors such as patient characteristics, comorbidities, surgery, prescribed antibiotic, geographic region, and hospitalization year. We also analyzed the CDI-attributable inpatient expenditures and length-of-stay durations according to hospital type (acute care and rehabilitation/long-term care).

RESULTS

The analysis was conducted using 3768 matched pairs. Overall, CDI-attributable inpatient expenditures and length-of-stay durations were US$3213 and 11.96 days, respectively. Rehabilitation/long-term care hospitals had substantially higher inpatient expenditures and longer hospitalizations than acute care hospitals.

CONCLUSION

This study quantified the hospital-onset CDI-attributable inpatient expenditures and hospitalizations in both acute and non-acute care hospitals. The inclusion of non-acute care hospitals provides a more accurate representation of the economic burden of CDIs.

Healthcare burden of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in Japan: A retrospective database study

This retrospective database study aimed to assess the healthcare burden of hospitalization cost and duration associated with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) by comparison with C. difficile infection (CDI) in Japan, using a health claims database of 270 acute care hospitals. Overall, 5423 hospitalized patients, with a record of one hospital-onset, healthcare facility-associated primary CDI episode within the 180-day period, from its onset between January 2012 and September 2016, were included. Of these, 353 had at least one rCDI and 5070 had no rCDI. Compared with those with no rCDI, the median total cost of hospitalization for patients with rCDI was JPY 1,184,371 (USD 11,691) higher (JPY 2,489,424 [interquartile range {IQR}: 1,597,424-4,008,751] compared with JPY 1,305,053 [624,033-2,549,569]). In addition, rCDI resulted in twice longer hospitalization duration in median compared with CDI (79 days [IQR: 53-117] compared with 40 days [20-74]). Based on a generalized linear regression model with a Gamma distribution and a logarithmic link function, the estimated mean of cost and duration of hospitalization for patients with rCDI were JPY 1,284,519 (95% confidence limit: -95,532-2,664,569) (USD 12,679) higher and 20.3 days (-9.5‒50.0) longer, compared with patients with no rCDI. The estimated mean difference in cost was higher in older patients and patients with diseases resulting in an immunosuppressive state. Higher costs and longer hospitalization for rCDI impose a great burden on healthcare system as well as patients, highlighting the importance of preventing recurrence of CDI.

Chlorhexidine-containing dressings in the prevention of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections: A cost and resource utilization analysis

BACKGROUND

A recent study reported a reduction in probable/definite central venous catheter (CVC)-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) in neutropenic high-risk patients using CVC dressings with a chlorhexidine-containing gel pad.

METHODS

Based on published data, a health-economic analysis was performed to analyze the economic effect of using CVC dressings with a chlorhexidine-containing gel pad compared to non-chlorhexidine control dressings. A micro-costing approach was used to determine CRBSI-related direct treatment cost factors.

RESULTS

Between February 2012 and September 2014, 356 patients (178 patients in both groups) were analyzed. Distribution of probable and definite CRBSI in the chlorhexidine group and control group were 12 (7%) vs 18 (10%) and 9 (5%) vs 21 (12%), respectively (P = .011). Median overall length of stay (25 vs 27.5 days; P = .630) and days on treatment with antibacterials (10 vs 12 days; P = .140) were similar between the chlorhexidine and control groups. The most important cost driver in both groups was treatment on general ward (€4275 [US$ 5173], interquartile range [IQR]: €592 - €6504 [US$ 716 - US$ 7871] vs €4560 [US$ 5518], IQR: €1227 - €8567 [US$ 1485 - US$ 10,367]; P = .120), resulting in median overall direct treatment costs of €13,881 (US$ 16,798) [IQR: €10,922 - €25,457 (US$ 13,217 - US$ 30,807) vs €13,929 [US$ 16,856] [IQR: €11,295 - €23,561 (US$ 13,669 - US$ 28,512); P = .640]).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows similar results in overall direct treatment costs, meaning that higher acquisition costs of chlorhexidine-containing dressings did not translate into higher costs. Expenses were primarily outweighed by a lower rate of probable/definite CRBSI and reduced associated costs.

Efficacy and safety of fidaxomicin for the treatment of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection in a randomized, double-blind, comparative Phase III study in Japan

We assessed the efficacy and safety of fidaxomicin, a narrow-spectrum macrocyclic antibiotic, for treating inpatients with Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) in Japan. The objective was to demonstrate the non-inferior efficacy of fidaxomicin versus vancomycin. This Phase III, vancomycin-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study enrolled adults with CDI. Patients were randomly assigned to receive fidaxomicin (200 mg twice daily, orally) or vancomycin (125 mg four-times daily, orally) for 10 days. The primary endpoint was global cure rate of CDI (proportion of patients cured at end of treatment with no recurrence during 28-day follow-up). Non-inferiority margin of 10% was pre-specified. Two-hundred and twelve patients were randomized and received treatment at 82 hospitals. Global cure rate was 67.3% (70/104) with fidaxomicin and 65.7% (71/108) with vancomycin: difference 1.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) -11.3-13.7]. Non-inferiority was not demonstrated. Post-hoc analysis in full analysis set patients who received at least 3 days' treatment revealed a higher global cure rate for fidaxomicin [70/97 (72.2%)] than vancomycin [71/106 (67.0%)]: difference 4.6% (95% CI -7.9-17.1). Recurrence rate in the full analysis set for recurrence was lower in fidaxomicin- [17/87 (19.5%)] than vancomycin-treated [24/95 (25.3%)] patients. Adverse event incidences and profiles were similar for both treatments. Though non-inferiority was not demonstrated for fidaxomicin versus vancomycin, global cure rate was numerically higher and recurrence rate lower for fidaxomicin than vancomycin. Fidaxomicin could be an option for the treatment of CDI in an era of reduced antibiotic susceptibility, and to reduce the incidence of recurrence in Japanese patients. CLINICALTRIALS.

GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT02179658.

A Novel Method to Mask the Bitter Taste of Berberine Hydrochloride: Powder Surface Modification

Background:

Berberine hydrochloride (BH) is widely used as a nonprescription drug to treat diarrhea without drug resistance and side effects worldwide. However, its drastic bitterness affects patient compliance severely. Hence, it is essential to mask the bitter taste of BH.

Objective:

Powder surface modification technology is attempted to mask the bitterness of BH through changing the surface properties in vibromill. The purpose of this study was to apply this technology to mask the bitterness of BH and improve the patient compliance.

Materials and Methods:

Initially, to prepare the modifier-BH composites, some parameters were optimized, including type of modifiers, ratio between BH and modifiers, and composite time. Then, the contact angles, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were utilized to evaluate the microstructure of composites. Moreover, electronic tongue measurement, animal performance test, and bitterness evaluation methods were applied to evaluate the masking effect.

Results:

Based on the results of bitter taste evaluations, mannitol was chosen as the best modifier, and the optimal ratio of BH and mannitol was 6:4 with grinding together for 2 min in vibromill. For the composites prepared by this process, the IR spectroscopy and surface properties were similar with that of mannitol, and the microstructure was also demonstrated that small particles of mannitol successfully coated on the surface of BH. Special structure of the composites decreased the contact area between BH and external media and finally inhibited the bitterness. This effect was confirmed by three different kinds of methods.

Conclusion:

Our study provides a novel method to mask the bitter taste of drugs. It will be of great interest to pharmaceutical experts and pharmacists.

SUMMARY

Powder surface modification, a novel and different from previous technology, is used to prepare modifier-berberine hydrochloride composites to mask the bitter taste of BH

Electronic tongue measurement, animal performance test, human sensory test, and chemical evaluation method were simultaneously applied to evaluate the masking effect

A novel method to mask the bitter taste of drugs was provided.

Abbreviations used: BH:Berberine hydrochloride; CDI: Clostridium difficile infection; ODT: Orally disintegrating tablets; HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography; CAs: Contact angles; SEM: Scanning electron microscopy; IR: Infrared spectrogram.

Recent Progress for the Effective Prevention and Treatment of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection

Recurrence occurs in approximately 25% of all cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and poses a unique clinical challenge. Traditionally, treatment options of CDI have been limited to regimes of established antibiotics (eg, pulsed/tapered vancomycin) but faecal transplantation is emerging as a useful alternative. In recent years, promising new strategies have emerged for effective prevention of recurrent CDI (rCDI) including new antimicrobials (eg, fidaxomicin) and monoclonal antibodies (eg, bezlotoxumab). Despite promising progress in this area, obstacles remain for making the best use of these resources due to uncertainty over patient selection. This commentary describes the current epidemiology of rCDI, its clinical impact and risk factors, some of the measures used for treating and preventing rCDI, and some of the emerging treatment options. It then describes some of the obstacles that need to be overcome.

Economic burden and cost-effective management of Clostridium difficile infections

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most important cause of healthcare-associated infectious diarrhea in industrialized countries. We performed a literature review of the overall economic burden of initial and recurrent CDI as well as of the cost-effectiveness of the various treatment strategies applied in these settings. Even though analysis of health economic data is complicated by the limited comparability of results, our review identified several internationally consistent results. Authors from different countries have shown that recurrent CDI disproportionally contributes to the overall economic burden of CDI and therefore offers considerable saving potential. Subsequent cost-effectiveness analyses almost exclusively identified fidaxomicin as the preferred treatment option for initial CDI and fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) for recurrent CDI. Among the various FMT protocols, optimum results were obtained using early colonoscopy-based FMT.

Surveillance of antibiotic resistance among common Clostridium difficile ribotypes in Hong Kong

Incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is rapidly increasing and it poses a major health burden globally. However, data regarding the epidemiology of CDI in Asia are limited. We aimed to characterize the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of common ribotypes of toxigenic C. difficile in Hong Kong. Fifty-three PCR ribotypes were identified among 284 toxigenic C. difficile clinical isolates. The five most prevalent ribotypes were 002 (13%), 017 (12%), 014 (10%), 012 (9.2%), and 020 (9.5%). All tested C. difficile strains remained susceptible to metronidazole, vancomycin, meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam, but highly resistant to cephalosporins. Of the fluoroquinolones, highest resistance to ciprofloxacin was observed (99%), followed by levofloxacin (43%) and moxifloxacin (23%). The two newly emerged PCR ribotypes, 017 and 002, demonstrated high levels of co-resistance towards clindamycin, tetracycline, erythromycin and moxifloxacin. PCR ribotypes 017 and 002 with multi-drug resistance are rapidly emerging and continuous surveillance is important to monitor the epidemiology of C. difficile to prevent outbreaks of CDI.

A Systematic Literature Review of Economic Evaluations of Antibiotic Treatments for Clostridium difficile Infection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is associated with high management costs, particularly in recurrent cases. Fidaxomicin treatment results in lower recurrence rates than vancomycin and metronidazole, but has higher acquisition costs in Europe and the USA. This systematic literature review summarises economic evaluations (EEs) of fidaxomicin, vancomycin and metronidazole for treatment of CDI.

METHODS

Electronic databases (MEDLINE®, Embase, Cochrane Library) and conference proceedings (ISPOR, ECCMID, ICAAC and IDWeek) were searched for publications reporting EEs of fidaxomicin, vancomycin and/or metronidazole in the treatment of CDI. Reference bibliographies of identified manuscripts were also reviewed. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated according to the overall population of patients with CDI, as well as in subgroups with severe CDI or recurrent CDI, or those at higher risk of recurrence or mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 27 relevant EEs, conducted from the perspective of 12 different countries, were identified. Fidaxomicin was cost-effective versus vancomycin and/or metronidazole in 14 of 24 EEs (58.3%), vancomycin was cost-effective versus fidaxomicin and/or metronidazole in five of 27 EEs (18.5%) and metronidazole was cost-effective versus fidaxomicin and/or vancomycin in two of 13 EEs (15.4%). Fidaxomicin was cost-effective versus vancomycin in most of the EEs evaluating specific patient subgroups. Key cost-effectiveness drivers were cure rate, recurrence rate, time horizon, drug costs and length and cost of hospitalisation.

CONCLUSIONS

In most EEs, fidaxomicin was demonstrated to be cost-effective versus metronidazole and vancomycin in patients with CDI. These results have relevance to clinical practice, given the high budgetary impact of managing CDI and increasing restrictions on healthcare budgets.

OTHER

This analysis was initiated and funded by Astellas Pharma Inc.

Thirty-Day Readmissions in Hospitalized Patients Who Received Bezlotoxumab With Antibacterial Drug Treatment for Clostridium difficile Infection

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT01241552 (MODIFY I) and NCT01513239 (MODIFY II).

Cost-effectiveness analysis on the use of fidaxomicin and vancomycin to treat Clostridium difficile infection in France

BACKGROUND

Fidaxomicin is a macrocyclic antibiotic with proven efficacy against Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults. It was licensed in France in 2012, but, due to higher acquisition costs compared with existing treatments, healthcare providers require information on its cost/benefit profile.

OBJECTIVE

To compare healthcare costs and health outcomes of fidaxomicin and vancomycin, as reference treatment for CDI.

METHODS

A Markov model was used to simulate the treatment pathway, over 1 year, of adult patients with CDI receiving fidaxomicin or vancomycin. Several patient sub-groups (severe CDI; recurrent CDI; concomitant antibiotics; cancer; renal failure; elderly) were evaluated. Cost-effectiveness was analyzed based on cure and recurrence rates derived from published randomized clinical trials comparing fidaxomicin and vancomycin, and costs calculated from the payer perspective using French hospitalization data and drug cost databases. Model outputs included costs in euros (reference year 2014) and health outcomes (recurrence; sustained cure rates). Alternative scenario and sensitivity analyses were performed using data from other clinical trials in CDI, including one conducted in real-life clinical practice in France.

RESULTS

Drug acquisition costs were €1,692 higher in fidaxomicin-treated patients, but this was offset by the lower hospitalization costs with fidaxomicin, which were reduced by €1,722. The reduction in the cost of hospitalization was driven by the significantly lower number of recurrences in fidaxomicin-treated patients, offsetting the acquisition cost of fidaxomicin in all sub-groups except recurrent CDI and concomitant antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that, despite higher acquisition costs, the lower recurrence rate with fidaxomicin resulted in cost savings or low incremental costs compared with vancomycin.

Epidemiology and Recurrence Rates of Clostridium difficile Infections in Germany: A Secondary Data Analysis

Introduction

Clostridiumdifficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of health-care-associated infectious diarrhea. Recurrence rates are as high as 20–30% after standard treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin, and appear to be reduced for patients treated with fidaxomicin. According to the literature, the risk of CDI recurrence increases after the second relapse to 30–65%. Accurate data for Germany are not yet available.

Methods

Based on the research database of arvato health analytics (Munich, Germany), a secondary data analysis for the incidence, treatment characteristics and course of CDI was performed. The database included high granular accounting information of about 1.46 million medically insured patients covering the period 2006–2013, being representative for Germany. The analysis was based on new-onset CDI in 2012 in patients which either received outpatient antibiotic therapy for CDI or were hospitalized.

Results

The ICD-10 coded incidence of CDI in 2012 was 83 cases per 100,000 population. Overall mortality rates within the follow-up period of 1 year were 13.5% in inpatients with primary diagnosis of CDI, compared to 24.3% in inpatients with secondary diagnosis of CDI (P < 0.001), and 7.1% in outpatients (P < 0.001). In the median, patients with secondary diagnosis of CDI remained significantly longer hospitalized (24 vs. 9 days, P < 0.001). First recurrence of CDI was observed in 18.2% of cases with index events. There was a significantly increased risk to suffer a second and third recurrence, reaching 28.4% (P < 0.001), and 30.2% (P = 0.017), respectively. Antibiotic therapy of CDI in outpatients was performed mainly with metronidazole (in 90.8% of index events, 60.0% of first recurrences, and 43.5% of second recurrences).

Conclusion

The reported incidence of CDI in Germany is higher than noted previously. The recurrence rates do increase with the number of relapses, but are lower than reported in the literature, despite dominance of metronidazole treatment in outpatients.

Funding

MSD Sharp & Dohme GmbH, Haar, Germany.

A cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis of first-line fidaxomicin for patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in Germany

PURPOSE

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) represents a significant economic healthcare burden, especially the cost of recurrent disease. Fidaxomicin produced significantly lower recurrence rates and higher sustained cure rates in clinical trials. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of fidaxomicin compared with vancomycin in Germany in the first-line treatment of patient subgroups with CDI at increased risk of recurrence.

METHODS

A semi-Markov model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of fidaxomicin vs. vancomycin from a payer perspective in Germany. The model cycle length was 10 days. The time horizon was 1 year. Model inputs were probability of clinical cure, 30-day probability of recurrence, and 30-day attributable mortality based on evidence from two randomized controlled trials comparing fidaxomicin and vancomycin in patients with CDI. Cost-effectiveness outcomes were cost per quality-adjusted life year gained, cost per bed-day saved, and cost per recurrence avoided.

RESULTS

Despite higher drug acquisition costs, fidaxomicin was dominant in the cancer subgroup (less costly and more effective) and cost-effective in the other subgroups, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios vs. vancomycin ranging from €26,900 to €44,500. Hospitalization costs of the first-line treatment of CDI with fidaxomicin vs. vancomycin were lower in every patient subgroup, resulting in budget impacts ranging from -€1325 (in patients ≥65 years) to -€2438 (in cancer patients). Reductions in the cost of treating recurrence with fidaxomicin ranged from -€574.32 per patient in those receiving concomitant antibiotics to -€1500.68 per patient in renally impaired patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In patient subgroups with CDI at increased recurrence risk, fidaxomicin was cost-effective vs. vancomycin, and less costly and more effective in patients with cancer.

Epidemiology, outcomes, and predictors of mortality in hospitalized adults with Clostridium difficile infection

Studies have demonstrated an increasing Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) incidence in hospitals and the community, with increasing morbidity and mortality. In this study, we analyzed data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to evaluate CDI epidemiology, outcomes, and predictors of mortality in hospitalized adults. We identified cases of CDI (and associated comorbid conditions) from NHDS data from 2005 through 2009 using ICD-9 codes. Weighted univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to ascertain CDI incidence, associations between CDI and outcomes [length of stay (LOS), colectomy, all-cause in-hospital mortality, and discharge to a care facility], and predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality. Of an estimated 162 million adult inpatients, 1.26 million (0.8 %) had CDI. The overall CDI incidence is 77.8/10,000 hospitalizations, with no statistically significant change over the study period. On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age, gender, and comorbid conditions, CDI is an independent predictor of longer LOS (mean difference, 2.35 days), all-cause mortality [odds ratio (OR) 1.45], colectomy (OR 1.41), and discharge to a care facility (OR 2.12) (all P < 0.001). Elderly patients have a higher CDI incidence and worse outcomes than younger adults. The strongest predictors of all-cause mortality in patients with CDI include age 65 years or older, colectomy, and coagulation abnormalities. Despite stable CDI incidence and advances in management, CDI is associated with increased LOS, colectomy, all-cause in-hospital mortality, and discharge to a care facility in hospitalized, especially elderly, adults. Age older than 65 years should be added to the severity criteria for CDI.

A Novel Microbiome Therapeutic Increases Gut Microbial Diversity and Prevents Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection

BACKGROUND

Patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) have a ≥60% risk of relapse, as conventional therapies do not address the underlying gastrointestinal dysbiosis. This exploratory study evaluated the safety and efficacy of bacterial spores for preventing recurrent CDI.

METHODS

Stool specimens from healthy donors were treated with ethanol to eliminate pathogens. The resulting spores were fractionated and encapsulated for oral delivery as SER-109. Following their response to standard-of-care antibiotics, patients in cohort 1 were treated with SER-109 on 2 consecutive days (geometric mean dose, 1.7 × 10(9) spores), and those in cohort 2 were treated on 1 day (geometric mean dose, 1.1 × 10(8) spores). The primary efficacy end point was absence of C. difficile-positive diarrhea during an 8-week follow-up period. Microbiome alterations were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (median age, 66.5 years; 67% female) were enrolled, and 26 (86.7%) met the primary efficacy end point. Three patients with early, self-limiting C. difficile-positive diarrhea did not require antibiotics and tested negative for C. difficile at 8 weeks; thus, 96.7% (29 of 30) achieved clinical resolution. In parallel, gut microbiota rapidly diversified, with durable engraftment of spores and no outgrowth of non-spore-forming bacteria found after SER-109 treatment. Adverse events included mild diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea.

CONCLUSIONS

SER-109 successfully prevented CDI and had a favorable safety profile, supporting a novel microbiome-based intervention as a potential therapy for recurrent CDI.

Clinical and Healthcare Burden of Multiple Recurrences of Clostridium difficile Infection

BACKGROUND

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is associated with a high risk of recurrence (rCDI). Few studies have focused on multiple recurrences. To evaluate the potential of novel treatments targeting recurrence, we assessed the burden and severity of rCDI.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort of adults diagnosed with CDI in a hospital in Sherbrooke, Canada (1998-2013). An rCDI episode was defined by the reappearance of diarrhea leading to a treatment, with or without a positive toxin assay, within 14-60 days after the previous episode.

RESULTS

We included 1527 patients. The probability of developing a first rCDI was 25% (354/1418); a second, 38% (128/334); a third, 29% (35/121); and a fourth or more, 27% (9/33). Two or more rCDIs were observed in 9% (128/1389) of patients. The risk of a first recurrence fluctuated over time, but there was no such variation for second or further recurrences. The proportion of severe cases decreased (47% for initial episodes, 31% for first recurrences, 25% for second, 17% for third), as did the risk of complicated CDI (5.8% to 2.8%). The severity and risk of complications of first recurrences decreased over time, while oral vancomycin was used more systemically. A hospital admission was needed for 34% (148/434) of recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

This study documented the clinical and healthcare burden of rCDI: 34% of patients with rCDI needed admission, 28% developed severe CDI, and 4% developed a complication. Secular changes in the severity of recurrences could reflect variations in the predominant strain, or better management.