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Azimirad M, Noori M, Raeisi H, Yadegar A, Shahrokh S, Asadzadeh Aghdaei H, Bentivegna E, Martelletti P, Petrosillo N, Zali MR. How Does COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Incidence of Clostridioides difficile Infection and Exacerbation of Its Gastrointestinal Symptoms? Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:775063. [PMID: 34966759 PMCID: PMC8710593 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.775063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread all over the world with a very high rate of mortality. Different symptoms developed by COVID-19 infection and its impacts on various organs of the human body have highlighted the importance of both coinfections and superinfections with other pathogens. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is vulnerable to infection with COVID-19 and can be exploited as an alternative transmission route and target for virus entry and pathogenesis. The GI manifestations of COVID-19 disease are associated with severe disease outcomes and death in all age groups, in particular, elderly patients. Empiric antibiotic treatments for microbial infections in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in addition to experimental antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs may increase the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Alterations of gut microbiota are associated with depletion of beneficial commensals and enrichment of opportunistic pathogens such as C. difficile. Hence, the main purpose of this review is to explain the likely risk factors contributing to higher incidence of CDI in patients with COVID-19. In addition to lung involvement, common symptoms observed in COVID-19 and CDI such as diarrhea, highlight the significance of bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients. In particular, hospitalized elderly patients who are receiving antibiotics might be more prone to CDI. Indeed, widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as clindamycin, cephalosporins, penicillin, and fluoroquinolones can affect the composition and function of the gut microbiota of patients with COVID-19, leading to reduced colonization resistance capacity against opportunistic pathogens such as C. difficile, and subsequently develop CDI. Moreover, patients with CDI possibly may have facilitated the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles in their feces for approximately one month, even though the nasopharyngeal test turned negative. This coinfection may increase the potential transmissibility of both SARS-CoV-2 and C. difficile by fecal materials. Also, CDI can complicate the outcome of COVID-19 patients, especially in the presence of comorbidities or for those patients with prior exposure to the healthcare setting. Finally, physicians should remain vigilant for possible SARS-CoV-2 and CDI coinfection during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the excessive use of antimicrobials and biocides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Azimirad
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Noori
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamideh Raeisi
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Yadegar
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Shahrokh
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Enrico Bentivegna
- Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, St'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Martelletti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Petrosillo
- Infectious Diseases Service, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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How to Face the Advent of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in IBD Patients: Another Task for Gastroenterologists. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030248. [PMID: 33808983 PMCID: PMC7999188 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented effort to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection since this seems to be the most effective strategy to counter the pandemic. In the past weeks, the administration of vaccines has started in different parts of the world sustaining the hype of significantly containing the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the rapid time lapse from vaccine development to distribution has raised several concerns on its safety and efficacy. This topic is particularly felt by patients with chronic conditions and immumodulating therapies that could compromise their immune system such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we explore the potential future implications of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines introduction in the IBD field, touching upon the clinical experience coming from available data on vaccinations against other infections. We also dissect the factors associated with the acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, describing the possible strategies that gastroenterologist should adopt to reach the highest rate of vaccinations in IBD patients.
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Papa A, Lopetuso LR, Tursi A. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: The Picture Is Taking Shape. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 19:205-206. [PMID: 32822835 PMCID: PMC7434311 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Papa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy; Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Loris Riccardo Lopetuso
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy; Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Antonio Tursi
- Territorial Gastroenterology Service, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Barletta-Andria-Trani, Andria (BT), Italy
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Papa A, Papa V, Lopetuso LR, Gasbarrini A, Tursi A. Covid-19 and the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a practical decalogue for the post-pandemic phase. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2020; 13:1756284820968747. [PMID: 33149764 PMCID: PMC7586260 DOI: 10.1177/1756284820968747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has raised several concerns for patients with chronic immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As the outbreak appears to be in the descending phase, at least in some part of the world, as in most European countries, guidance is urgently needed to provide optimal care for our IBD patients in order to gradually and safely reduce the gap in care that has been accumulated in the months of lockdown and to face all the backlogs. Therefore, we have provided a decalogue of practical recommendations for gastroenterologists to manage patients with IBD in the post-peak phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. They include all the aspects of IBD care, not only pharmacological ones but also endoscopy, surgery, psychological treatment, telemedicine, diagnostics and educational tasks provided by doctors and patient associations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valerio Papa
- Catholic University, Rome, Italy,Department of Digestive Surgery, Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Loris Riccardo Lopetuso
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS Foundation, Rome, Italy,Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy,Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS Foundation, Rome, Italy Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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