Factors Predicting Recurrence of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Hospitalized Patients: Retrospective Study of More Than 2000 Patients

The Role of Probiotics in the Prevention of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

In patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD), substantial unfavourable alterations in the intestinal microbiota composition, i.e., dysbiosis, have been noted. The main causes of such dysbiosis among others are insufficient dietary fibre content in the diet, fluid restrictions, medications used, and physical activity limitation. One clinically important consequence of dysbiosis in CKD patients is high risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). In observational studies, it was found that CDI is more frequent in CKD patients than in the general population. This appears to be related to high hospitalization rate and more often antibiotic therapy use, leading up to the occurrence of dysbiosis. Therefore, the use of probiotics in CKD patients may avert changes in the intestinal microbiota, which is the major risk factor of CDI. The aim of this review paper is to summarize the actual knowledge concerning the use of probiotics in CDI prevention in CKD patients in the context of CDI prevention in the general population.

Risk factors for recurrent healthcare-facility associated Clostridioides difficile infection in a Swedish setting

PURPOSE

The objectives were to determine the risk factors for recurrent healthcare facility-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (HCF-CDI) in a high CDI incidence, low antibiotic use setting and to determine if length of cefotaxime exposure is a risk factor for recurrent HCF-CDI.

METHODS

The risk factors for recurrent HCF-CDI were evaluated with a retrospective nested case control study based on chart reading. The risk factors were evaluated univariately and multivariately. Length of risk antibiotic exposure was evaluated further in a subanalysis.

RESULTS

Risk factors for recurrent HCF-CDI were renal insufficiency (25.4% of cases compared to 15.4% of controls p = 0.006) and metronidazole treatment of initial CDI episode (88.4% compared to 71.7% p = 0.01). Exposure to cefotaxime and risk for recurrent CDI showed a dose-dependent relationship (linear by linear p = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Renal insufficiency and metronidazole treatment were independent risk factors for recurrent HCF-CDI in our setting. The relationship between cefotaxime exposure and risk for recurrent HCF-CDI, dose-dependent, could be evaluated further in a setting with high cefotaxime use.

Trends in and Risk Factors for Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA, 2015-2020

Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (RCDI) causes an increased burden on the healthcare system. We calculated RCDI incidence and identified factors associated with RCDI cases in New Haven County, Connecticut, USA, during 2015-2020 by using data from population-based laboratory surveillance. A subset of C. difficile cases had complete chart reviews conducted for RCDI and potentially associated variables. RCDI was defined as a positive C. difficile specimen occurring 2-8 weeks after incident C. difficile infection. We compared cases with and without RCDI by using multiple regression. RCDI occurred in 12.0% of 4,301 chart-reviewed C. difficile cases, showing a U-shaped time trend with a sharp increase in 2020, mostly because of an increase in hospital-onset cases. Malignancy (odds ratio 1.51 [95% CI 1.11-2.07]) and antecedent nitrofurantoin use (odds ratio 2.37 [95% CI 1.23-4.58]) were medical risk factors for RCDI. The 2020 increase may reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can prediction scores be used to identify patients at risk of Clostridioides difficile infection?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To describe the current state of literature on modeling risk of incident and recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (iCDI and rCDI), to underscore limitations, and to propose a path forward for future research.

RECENT FINDINGS

There are many published risk factors and models for both iCDI and rCDI. The approaches include scores with a limited list of variables designed to be used at the bedside, but more recently have also included automated tools that take advantage of the entire electronic health record. Recent attempts to externally validate scores have met with mixed success.

SUMMARY

For iCDI, the performance largely hinges on the incidence, which even for hospitalized patients can be low (often <1%). Most scores fail to achieve high accuracy and/or are not externally validated. A challenge in predicting rCDI is the significant overlap with risk factors for iCDI, reducing the discriminatory ability of models. Automated electronic health record-based tools show promise but portability to other centers is challenging. Future studies should include external validation and consider biomarkers to augment performance.

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases: 2021 update on the treatment guidance document for Clostridioides difficile infection in adults

SCOPE

In 2009, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) published the first treatment guidance document for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). This document was updated in 2014. The growing literature on CDI antimicrobial treatment and novel treatment approaches, such as faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and toxin-binding monoclonal antibodies, prompted the ESCMID study group on C. difficile (ESGCD) to update the 2014 treatment guidance document for CDI in adults.

METHODS AND QUESTIONS

Key questions on CDI treatment were formulated by the guideline committee and included: What is the best treatment for initial, severe, severe-complicated, refractory, recurrent and multiple recurrent CDI? What is the best treatment when no oral therapy is possible? Can prognostic factors identify patients at risk for severe and recurrent CDI and is there a place for CDI prophylaxis? Outcome measures for treatment strategy were: clinical cure, recurrence and sustained cure. For studies on surgical interventions and severe-complicated CDI the outcome was mortality. Appraisal of available literature and drafting of recommendations was performed by the guideline drafting group. The total body of evidence for the recommendations on CDI treatment consists of the literature described in the previous guidelines, supplemented with a systematic literature search on randomized clinical trials and observational studies from 2012 and onwards. The Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to grade the strength of our recommendations and the quality of the evidence. The guideline committee was invited to comment on the recommendations. The guideline draft was sent to external experts and a patients' representative for review. Full ESCMID endorsement was obtained after a public consultation procedure.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Important changes compared with previous guideline include but are not limited to: metronidazole is no longer recommended for treatment of CDI when fidaxomicin or vancomycin are available, fidaxomicin is the preferred agent for treatment of initial CDI and the first recurrence of CDI when available and feasible, FMT or bezlotoxumab in addition to standard of care antibiotics (SoC) are preferred for treatment of a second or further recurrence of CDI, bezlotoxumab in addition to SoC is recommended for the first recurrence of CDI when fidaxomicin was used to manage the initial CDI episode, and bezlotoxumab is considered as an ancillary treatment to vancomycin for a CDI episode with high risk of recurrence when fidaxomicin is not available. Contrary to the previous guideline, in the current guideline emphasis is placed on risk for recurrence as a factor that determines treatment strategy for the individual patient, rather than the disease severity.

Risk Factors for Clostridioides Difficile Diarrhea In Solid Organ Transplantation Recipients

BACKGROUND

There is limited knowledge about risk factors for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and recurrent CDI in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients.

METHODS

A case-control study of CDI in SOT recipients compared with controls (SOT recipients who did not present CDI).

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients from 1089 SOT recipients (6.2%) suffered at least one episode of CDI. The mean age was 55 ± 12 years and 20 cases (69%) were men. The accumulated incidence was 8% in liver transplantation, 6.2% in lung transplantation, 5.4% in heart transplantation, and 4.7% in kidney transplantation. Twenty-nine cases (43.3%) were diagnosed during the first 3 months after SOT. Forty-one cases (61.2%) were hospital acquired. Thirty-one patients with CDI presented with mild-moderate infection (46.3%), 30 patients with severe infection (44.8%), and 6 patients with severe-complicated disease (9%). Independent variables found to be related with CDI were hospitalization in the previous 3 months (odds ratio: 2.99; [95% confidence interval 1.21-7.37]) and the use of quinolones in the previous month (odds ratio: 3.71 [95% confidence interval 1.16-11.8]). Eleven patients (16.4%) had at least one recurrence of CDI. Previous treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate, severe-complicated index episode, and high serum creatinine were associated with recurrent CDI in the univariant analysis CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplant recipients presented the highest incidence of CDI among SOT recipients. Risk factors for CDI were hospitalization in the previous 3 months and the use of quinolones in the previous month.

Prognostic factors for severe and recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), its subsequent recurrences (rCDIs), and severe CDI (sCDI) provide a significant burden for both patients and the healthcare system. Identifying patients diagnosed with initial CDI who are at increased risk of developing sCDI/rCDI could lead to more cost-effective therapeutic choices. In this systematic review we aimed to identify clinical prognostic factors associated with an increased risk of developing sCDI or rCDI.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Emcare, Web of Science and COCHRANE Library databases were searched from database inception through March, 2021. The study eligibility criteria were cohort and case-control studies. Participants were patients ≥18 years old diagnosed with CDI, in which clinical or laboratory factors were analysed to predict sCDI/rCDI. Risk of bias was assessed by using the Quality in Prognostic Research (QUIPS) tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool modified for prognostic studies. Study selection was performed by two independent reviewers. Overview tables of prognostic factors were constructed to assess the number of studies and the respective effect direction and statistical significance of an association.

RESULTS

136 studies were included for final analysis. Greater age and the presence of multiple comorbidities were prognostic factors for sCDI. Identified risk factors for rCDI were greater age, healthcare-associated CDI, prior hospitalization, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) started during or after CDI diagnosis, and previous rCDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic factors for sCDI and rCDI could aid clinicians to make treatment decisions based on risk stratification. We suggest that future studies use standardized definitions for sCDI/rCDI and systematically collect and report the risk factors assessed in this review, to allow for meaningful meta-analysis of risk factors using data of high-quality trials.

Risk Factors for Recurrence of Clostridioides difficile in Hospitalized Patients

BACKGROUND

Diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis associated with Clostridioides difficile - a spore-forming anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus - is a major infection in hospitalized patients with a profound impact on clinical and economic outcomes. Recurrence (rCDI) is common and predisposes to further episodes with poor outcomes.

METHOD

We aimed to identify a wide range of risk factors for recurrence to guide stewardship initiatives. After ethical approval, we commenced collecting demographic and clinical data of patients older than 18 years with clinically and microbiologically confirmed C. difficile infection. Data were statistically analyzed using R software.

RESULTS

Of 204 patients included in the analysis, 36 (18%) suffered 90-day recurrence, rCDI was higher among females (23%) compared to males (13%), overall age median (IQR) was 66 (51-77), and for rCDI cases 81 (69-86) years. Among 26 variables analyzed to evaluate their association with rCDI, prior clindamycin exposure, concurrent use of aztreonam, patients >76 years, total hospital length of stay, and LOS before diagnosis ≤7 days, WBC ≤ 9.85 × 10³ at discharge were more likely to experience rCDI.

CONCLUSION

As identified in this analysis, patients with risk factors for rCDI could be candidates for close monitoring, a high index of suspicion, and risk mitigation interventions to avoid rCDI and improve clinical outcomes.

Acid Suppression Medications During Hospitalization as a Risk Factor for Recurrence of Clostridioides difficile Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Studies have had conflicting results regarding the influence of acid-suppression medications (ASMs) during hospitalization on the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the association between recurrent CDI and ASM use in inpatients was performed. Relevant literature was identified using Medline, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. All human studies were considered regardless of publication date. Case-control and cohort studies and clinical trials were included if they contained the necessary information to calculate appropriate statistics related to the objective of this study. Review articles, meta-analyses, and commentaries were excluded; however, their references were searched to identify any studies missed. The random-effects model was selected since significant heterogeneity in study design was identified. To evaluate the sensitivity of the analysis various subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Our search identified 9 studies involving 5668 patients of whom 1003 (17.7%) developed recurrent CDI. Patients on ASM were 64% more likely to develop recurrent CDI than patients not on ASM (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.13-2.38; P = .009; I2 = 79.54%). Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use was associated with an 84% increased risk of recurrent CDI versus no ASM (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.18-2.85; P = .007; I2 = 83.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

ASM use during hospitalization was associated with a 64% increase in recurrent CDI. The association was greater with PPI use. Due to significant heterogeneity in the analyses, additional studies are essential to further elucidate iatrogenic effects of ASM. Unnecessary PPI use should be discontinued.

Effect of Endogenous Clostridioides difficile Toxin Antibodies on Recurrence of C. difficile Infection

BACKGROUND

Endogenous antibodies (eAbs) against Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile toxins may protect against recurrence of C. difficile infection (rCDI). This hypothesis was tested using placebo group data from MODIFY (Monoclonal Antibodies for C. difficile Therapy) I and II (NCT01241552 and NCT01513239, respectively), global, randomized phase 3 trials that assessed the efficacy and safety of the antitoxin monoclonal antibodies bezlotoxumab and actoxumab in participants receiving antibiotic therapy for CDI.

METHODS

A placebo infusion (normal saline) was administered on study day 1. Serum samples were collected on day 1, week 4, and week 12, and eAb-A and eAb-B titers were measured by 2 validated electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Rates of initial clinical cure and rCDI were summarized by eAb titer category (low, medium, high) at each time point.

RESULTS

Serum eAb titers were available from a total of 773 participants. The proportion of participants with high eAb-A and eAb-B titers increased over time. Rates of initial clinical cure were similar across eAb titer categories. There was no correlation between eAb-A titers and rCDI rate at any time point. However, there was a negative correlation between rCDI and eAb-B titer on day 1 and week 4. rCDI occurred in 22% of participants with high eAb-B titers at baseline compared with 35% with low or medium titers (P = .015).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher eAb titers against toxin B, but not toxin A, were associated with protection against rCDI. These data are consistent with the observed efficacy of bezlotoxumab, and lack of efficacy of actoxumab, in the MODIFY trials.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT01241552 and NCT01513239.

Proton pump inhibitor use and risk for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy is a potentially modifiable risk factor for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Citing an absence of clinical trials, many guidelines do not provide recommendations for addressing PPI management. Our aim was to perform an updated systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association between PPI use and recurrent CDI addressing prior methodological limitations.

METHODS

Data sources were MEDLINE and EMBASE. Eligible studies were cohort and case-control studies; there were no restrictions on study setting or duration of follow-up. Participants were adults with prior CDI who did or did not receive PPI therapy and were assessed for recurrent CDI. Summary (unadjusted) odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effects model. Prespecified subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity including study design, study quality, duration of follow-up, adjustment for confounders, and outcome definition.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 57 477 patients with CDI, of whom 6870 (12%) received PPIs. The rate of recurrent CDI was 24% in patients treated with PPIs versus 18% in those who were not. A meta-analysis that pooled unadjusted odds ratios demonstrated higher odds of recurrent CDI in patients who received PPIs (OR 1.69, 95%CI 1.46-1.96) versus those who did not. There was moderate heterogeneity between studies (I2 56%); however, a sensitivity analysis restricted to studies with 56 days of follow-up substantially reduced the heterogeneity (OR 1.59, 95%CI 1.36-1.85; I2 12%). An analysis restricted to multivariate studies that combined adjusted ORs also demonstrated higher odds of recurrent CDI in patients who received PPIs (OR 1.49, 95%CI 1.12-2.00). No publication bias was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

We found significantly higher odds of recurrent CDI among users of PPIs that persisted across multiple sensitivity analyses. These results support stronger recommendations for PPI stewardship at CDI diagnosis.

External validation of two prediction tools for patients at risk for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection

BACKGROUND

One in four patients with primary Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) develops recurrent CDI (rCDI). With every recurrence, the chance of a subsequent CDI episode increases. Early identification of patients at risk for rCDI might help doctors to guide treatment. The aim of this study was to externally validate published clinical prediction tools for rCDI.

METHODS

The validation cohort consisted of 129 patients, diagnosed with CDI between 2018 and 2020. rCDI risk scores were calculated for each individual patient in the validation cohort using the scoring tools described in the derivation studies. Per score value, we compared the average predicted risk of rCDI with the observed number of rCDI cases. Discrimination was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Two prediction tools were selected for validation (Cobo 2018 and Larrainzar-Coghen 2016). The two derivation studies used different definitions for rCDI. Using Cobo's definition, rCDI occurred in 34 patients (26%) of the validation cohort: using the definition of Larrainzar-Coghen, we observed 19 recurrences (15%). The performance of both prediction tools was poor when applied to our validation cohort. The estimated AUC was 0.43 [95% confidence interval (CI); 0.32-0.54] for Cobo's tool and 0.42 (95% CI; 0.28-0.56) for Larrainzar-Coghen's tool.

CONCLUSION

Performance of both prediction tools was disappointing in the external validation cohort. Currently identified clinical risk factors may not be sufficient for accurate prediction of rCDI.

Clostridioides difficile Infection in Chronic Kidney Disease-An Overview for Clinicians

Increased incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), occurrence of severe and complicated CDI, and more frequent occurrence of drug-resistant, recurrent or non-hospital CDI has become a worldwide clinical problem. CDI is more common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) than in the general population. CDI seems to be associated with frequent hospitalization, frequently used antibiotic therapy, dysbiosis, and abnormalities of the immune system observed in CKD patients. Dysbiosis is a common disorder found in CKD patients. It may be related to insufficient fiber content in the diet, reduced amount of consumed fluids and often reduced physical activity, constipation, impaired gastrointestinal motility, multidrug pharmacotherapy, and uremic milieu in CKD stage 5. In patients with CKD the clinical manifestations of CDI are similar to the general population; however, more frequent recurrence of CDI and higher prevalence of severe CDI are reported. Moreover, the increase in CDI related mortality is observed more in CKD patients than in the general population. The aim of this review paper is to summarize the current knowledge concerning the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, and prevention and treatment in CKD patients.

Risk of complications and mortality following recurrent and non-recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: a retrospective observational database study in England

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) increases the risk of complications and mortality. We assessed the magnitude of these outcomes in a large cohort of English patients with initial and recurrent CDI.

AIM

To compare the risk of complications and all-cause mortality, within 12 months, among hospitalized patients ≥18 years old with hospital-associated- (HA-) CDI and recurrent CDI.

METHODS

Patients with HA-CDI during 2002-2013 were identified using inpatient hospital data linked to primary care and death data. Each HA-CDI case was frequency matched to two hospitalized patients without CDI on age group, sex, calendar year of admission, admission method and number of hospital care episodes. A second CDI episode starting on days 13-56 was defined as recurrence. Risks of mortality and complications at 12 months were analysed using Cox proportional hazard models.

FINDINGS

We included 6862 patients with HA-CDI and 13,724 without CDI. Median age was 81.0 years (IQR 71.0-87.0). Patients with HA-CDI had more comorbidities than those without CDI, and significantly higher risks of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.77 (1.67-1.87)) and complications (1.66 (1.46-1.88)) within 12 months from hospital admission. Of those with HA-CDI, 1140 (16.6%) experienced CDI recurrence. Patients with recurrent versus non-recurrent CDI also had significantly increased risk of mortality (1.32 (1.20-1.45)) and complications (1.37 (1.01-1.84)) in the 12 months from the initial CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

HA-CDI (versus no CDI) and recurrent CDI are both associated with significantly higher risks of complications or death within 12 months of the initial CDI episode.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients With Cirrhosis

INTRODUCTION

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is common in patients with cirrhosis and is associated with poor outcomes. CDI risk factors in this population have been well characterized; however, risk factors of recurrent CDI (R-CDI) after treatment have not been explored. We sought to estimate the incidence of R-CDI and its associated risk factors in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

We performed a cohort study of patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with CDI between 2012 and 2016. We collected patient characteristics, including detailed information on the CDI, features of the underlying liver disease, and outcomes including R-CDI, hospital readmission, and mortality. R-CDI was defined as CDI occurring 2-8 weeks after the initial episode. Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify variables independently associated with the outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 257 hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and CDI were included. CDI was community associated in 22.6%. The incidence of R-CDI was 11.9%. R-CDI was not significantly associated with medications at hospital admission or discharge. Independent risk factors of R-CDI included increased Charlson Comorbidity Index (hazard ratio [HR] 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.55) and use of lactulose (HR 2.58; 95% CI: 1.09-6.09). The 30-day readmission rate was 37%, and readmission was associated with increased Charlson Comorbidity Index (HR 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03-1.23) and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (HR 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.07). The 90-day mortality was 22.8%.

DISCUSSION

In patients with cirrhosis, R-CDI is associated with comorbidity burden and lactulose use. Attention to these factors might aid clinicians in efforts to prevent R-CDI and improve outcomes in this population.

Renal Impairment, C. difficile Recurrence, and the Differential Effect of Bezlotoxumab: A Post Hoc Analysis of Pooled Data From 2 Randomized Clinical Trials

Background

Renal impairment is not a consistently cited risk factor for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). We examined the association between renal impairment and rCDI and the effect of bezlotoxumab, an anti–toxin B monoclonal antibody, in reducing rCDI in participants with renal impairment.

Methods

We pooled data from 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trials conducted in participants receiving bezlotoxumab or placebo infusion during oral antibacterial drug treatment for CDI. We assessed the association between renal impairment and rCDI in placebo-treated participants and evaluated the effect of bezlotoxumab vs placebo in reducing rCDI among participants with renal impairment, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <90 mL/min.

Results

The proportion of placebo-treated participants experiencing rCDI within 12 weeks was higher in those with renal impairment (n = 919) vs those without renal impairment (n = 612; 36.6% and 27.7%, respectively; difference, 8.9%; 95% CI, 1.3% to 16.3%). Renal impairment was significantly associated with a higher rate of recurrence in placebo-treated participants lacking commonly recognized risk factors for rCDI (renal impairment as only risk factor, 28.8%; vs normal renal function and no risk factors, 12.5%; difference, 16.3%; 95% CI, 3.4% to 28.8%). Among all participants with renal impairment, the rate of rCDI was 19.5% among bezlotoxumab-treated vs 36.6% among placebo-treated participants (difference, –17.1%; 95% CI, –23.4% to –10.6%).

Conclusions

This post hoc analysis adds to the literature suggesting an association of renal impairment as an independent risk factor for rCDI and provides preliminary evidence that patients with renal impairment who suffer with CDI may benefit from adjunctive treatment with bezlotoxumab.

Temporal change of risk factors in hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection using time-trend analysis

OBJECTIVE

Given recent changes in the epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and prevention efforts, we investigated temporal changes over a period of 11 years (2006-2016) in incidence and risk factors for CDI.

DESIGN

Retrospective matched case-control study.

SETTING/PATIENTS

Pediatric and adult inpatients (n = 694,849) discharged from 3 hospitals (tertiary and quaternary care, community, and pediatric) in a large, academic health center in New York City.

METHODS

Risk factors were identified in cases and controls matched by length of stay at a ratio of 1:4. A Cochran-Armitage or Mann-Kendall test was used to investigate trends of incidence and risk factors.

RESULTS

Of 694,849 inpatients, 6,038 (0.87%) had CDI: 44% of these cases were hospital acquired (HA-CDI) and 56% were community acquired (CA-CDI). We observed temporal downward trends in HA-CDI (-0.03% per year) and upward trends in CA-CDI (+0.04% per year). Over time, antibiotics were administered to more patients (+3% per year); the use of high-risk antibiotics declined (-1.2% per year); and antibiotic duration increased in patients with HA-CDI (+4.4% per year). Fewer proton-pump inhibitors and more histamine-2 blockers were used (-3.8% and +7.3% per year, respectively; all Ptrend <.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of HA-CDI decreased over time, CA-CDI simultaneously increased. Continued efforts to assure judicious use of antibiotics in inpatient and community settings is clearly vital. Measuring the actual the level of exposure of an antibiotic (incidence density) should be used for ongoing surveillance and assessment.

Effects of co-infection on the clinical outcomes of Clostridium difficile infection

Background

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a spore-forming, Gram-positive rod that is known to be associated with antibiotic use. It is one of the leading causes of nosocomial diarrhea in the industrialized world and therefore warrants further study of its nature. It isn't clear if co-infection by other organisms can affect the outcome of C. difficile infection (CDI).

Methods

A single center retrospective study was done and it used inclusion criteria of 18 years of age and being tested positive for CDI on FilmArray® multiplex gastro-intestinal (GI) panel. Exclusion criteria were a GI panel performed on an outpatient basis, recurrent CDI, and the presence of end-stage renal disease, cirrhosis, or a non-GI infection. The stool sample for all patients were collected within 48 h of presentation to the hospital. There were 235 of 2576 GI panels selected for a retrospective chart review based on the above criteria. Among these 235 patients, 38 had a co-infection (CDI+ another GI infection = group A or cases) and the rest had only CDI (group B or controls). Group A was compared with group B for CDI severity, its response to treatment, recurrence, and length of the hospital stay, using 0.05 as the alpha criterion.

Results

Most patients with CDI were female and above the age of 60 years. Co infection did not increase the severity of CDI based both on the American College of Gastroenterology criteria (p 0.16) as well as Infectious Disease Society of America criteria (p 0.77). Co infection group also didn't have significantly different CDI related treatment failure rate (p 0.23), or CDI recurrence rate (p 0.49). Co-infection was also not associated with lengthier hospital stay (p 0.41).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that co-infection doesn't affect the severity of CDI or can cause treatment failures. Additionally, there was no significant increase in hospital stay, or increase in CDI recurrence associated with co-infection. Therefore, if CDI is the leading clinical diagnosis and a patient is tested positive for co-infection in addition to CDI on FilmArray® multiplex GI panel, this co-infection shouldn't change the management for CDI. Limitations of this study (including retrospective nature of the study, small sample size, single site study, not including all microbiome and non-inclusion of race) should also be taken into account, while considering the applicability of the results of this study.

Elective Stoma Reversal Has a Higher Incidence of Postoperative Clostridium Difficile Infection Compared With Elective Colectomy: An Analysis Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and Targeted Colectomy Databases

BACKGROUND

Clostridium difficile infection is caused by the proliferation of a gram-positive anaerobic bacteria after medical or surgical intervention and can result in toxic complications, emergent surgery, and death.

OBJECTIVE

This analysis evaluates the incidence of C difficile infection in elective restoration of intestinal continuity compared with elective colon resection.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective database review of the 2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project and targeted colectomy database.

SETTINGS

The intervention cohort was defined as the primary Current Procedural Terminology codes for ileostomy/colostomy reversal (44227, 44620, 44625, and 44626) and International Classification of Diseases codes for ileostomy/colostomy status (VV44.2, VV44.3, VV55.2, VV55.3, Z93.2, Z93.3, Z43.3, and Z43.2).

PATIENTS

A total of 2235 patients underwent elective stoma reversal compared with 10403 patients who underwent elective colon resection.

INTERVENTION

Multivariate regression modeling of the impact of stoma reversal on postoperative C difficile infection risk was used as the study intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The incidence of C difficile infection in the 30 days after surgery was measured.

RESULTS

The incidence of C difficile infection in the 30-day postoperative period was significantly higher (3.04% vs 1.25%; p < 0.001) in patients undergoing stoma reversal. After controlling for differences in cohorts, regression analysis suggested that stoma reversal (OR = 2.701 (95% CI, 1.966-3.711); p < 0.001), smoking (OR = 1.520 (95% CI, 1.063-2.174); p = 0.022), steroids (OR = 1.677 (95% CI, 1.005-2.779); p = 0.048), and disseminated cancer (OR = 2.312 (95% CI, 1.437-3.719); p = 0.001) were associated with C difficile infection incidence in the 30-day postoperative period.

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited because it was a retrospective database review with observational bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who undergo elective stoma reversal have a higher incidence of postoperative C difficile infection compared with patients who undergo an elective colectomy. Given the impact of postoperative C difficile infection, a heightened sense of suspicion should be given to symptomatic patients after stoma reversal. See at Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A553.

Clostridium difficile Infection in Trauma, Surgery, and Medical Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes significant morbidity and mortality rates, especially for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Data comparing trauma and surgery patients with CDI in the ICU with medical patients with CDI in the ICU are limited.

METHODS

In a single-center study, we analyzed retrospective data from 25 trauma patients and 13 surgery patients aged 18 years or older who had CDI and had been admitted to the ICU. A comparison group of 156 medical patients aged 18 years or greater who had CDI and were admitted to the ICU also was identified.

RESULTS

The trauma/surgery patients had a significantly higher mean number of ventilator days (13.5 ± 9.3 vs. 7.3 ± 7.2; p < 0.0004), Foley catheter days (11.9 ± 6.8 vs. 8.0 ± 7.9; p = 0.005), mean ICU length of stay (LOS) (12.34 ± 9.7 vs. 5.9 ± 5.9 days; p < 0.0003), and mean total LOS (16 ± 9.3 vs. 10.7 ± 8.4 days; p = 0.0008). However, the medical group had a significantly higher mean number of vasopressor days (2.07 ± 3.51) than the trauma/surgery group (0.58 ± 1.55; p < 0.0001). The overall survival rate was significantly higher in the trauma/surgery group than in the medical group (100% vs. 81%, respectively; p = 0.003). A higher percentage of patients in the trauma/surgery group received piperacillin/tazobactam before the diagnosis of CDI than the medical patients (58% vs. 37%, respectively; p = 0.02). The number of days that antibiotics were given prior to the development of CDI was greater in the trauma/surgery group than in the medical group (10.3 ± 6.7 vs. 7.6 ± 7.3 days; p = 0.04). Multiple logistic regression models determined ICU LOS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.27 days; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.41), the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (aOR 3.44; 95% CI 1.19-9.95), and piperacillin/tazobactam use (aOR 3.27; 95% CI 1.24-8.65) to be positively associated with CDI in the trauma/surgery group compared with the medical patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer ICU stay, receipt of piperacillin/tazobactam, and having COPD were positively associated with CDI in trauma/surgery patients compared with medical patients. These findings suggest further consideration of the possibility of CDI should be given to patients admitted the surgical ICU for an extended period of time, receiving piperacillin/tazobactam, or having COPD. Additional evaluation of these factors in a larger patient sample is warranted.

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.

Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis

To evaluate the frequency, possible risk factors, and outcome of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.There has been an upsurge of CDI in patients with IBD who has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Various risk factors have been found to predispose IBD patients to CDI.A retrospective case-control study on IBD patients admitted with exacerbation and tested for CDI at the Tel Aviv Medical Center in 2008 to 2013. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and prognostic data were retrieved from electronic files and compared between patients who tested positive (CDI+) or negative (CDI-) for CDI.CDI was identified in 28 of 311 (7.31%) IBD patients hospitalized with diarrhea. IBD-specific risk factors (univariate analysis) for CDI included: use of systemic steroids therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-10.6) and combinations of ≥2 immunomodulator medications (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6.3). Additional risk factors for CDI that are common in the general population were hospitalization in the preceding 2 months (OR = 6.0, 95% CI 2.6-14.1), use of antacids (OR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.7-8.4), and high Charlson comorbidity score (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.7). A multivariate analysis confirmed that only hospitalization within the preceding 2 months and use of antacids were significant risk factors for CDI. The prognosis of CDI+ patients was similar to that of CDI- patients.Hospitalized IBD patients with exacerbation treated with antacids or recently hospitalized are at increased risk for CDI and should be tested and empirically treated until confirmation or exclusion of the infection.

Magnitude and direction of the association between Clostridium difficile infection and proton pump inhibitors in adults and pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a cause of increased morbidity and health care costs among hospitalized patients. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are mainly used for the treatment of acid-related upper gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the risks associated with initial and recurrent CDI in adult and pediatric patients treated with PPIs.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed using PubMed (Medline), Embase, and Web of Science with the following search terms: ("proton pump inhibitor," "PPI," or "acid suppression") AND ("infection," "diarrhea," "diarrhoea," "colitis," or "disease") AND ("Clostridium difficile"). Meta-analysis was performed using Revman5.3 software. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) presented as standard plots with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven eligible studies were selected. PPI use was significantly associated with risk of CDI (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.94-2.82; P < 0.00001). Pooled data from twelve studies demonstrated a significant association between PPI use and recurrent CDI (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.39-2.15; P = 0.02). Subgroup analysis revealed significant associations between PPI use and an increased incidence of CDI among adult (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.89-2.80; P < 0.00001) and pediatric (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.44-6.23; P < 0.00001) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PPI use was associated with CDI in adult and pediatric patients, and with recurrent CDI. Although many risk factors are associated with the occurrence and recurrence of CDI, consideration should be given to not administering PPIs at any age if they are unnecessary.

Evidence-Based Practice in the Treatment for Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in the Intensive Care Unit

Unit nurses provide care to patients with serious health conditions. Often antibiotics are recommended to fight infections. Sometimes patients are on proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Antibiotics and PPIs may lead to diarrhea, causing the patient more discomfort, and possibly leading to a more serious infection. One serious infection is caused by Clostridium difficile, which causes death in some cases. About 75% of patients on antibiotics may not need antibiotics. Several studies showed less diarrhea in patients on probiotics. However, probiotics cause harm to some patients, which needs to be considered. Nurses need to ensure that antibiotic stewardship is followed.

Association of Gastric Acid Suppression With Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Gastric acid suppression has been associated with an increased risk of primary Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), but the risk of recurrent CDI in patients taking gastric acid suppressant medications is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between gastric acid suppressants and recurrent CDI.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register, the Cochrane Database, and Web of Science were searched from January 1, 1995, to September 30, 2015, for studies assessing the association between gastric acid suppressant exposure and recurrent CDI. Search terms included Clostridium difficile, pseudomembranous colitis, proton pump inhibitor, and histamine H2 blocker.

STUDY SELECTION

Case-control studies, cohort studies, and clinical trials that included patients with CDI who did or did not receive gastric acid suppressant therapy and who were evaluated for recurrent CDI were included, with no restriction on study setting (inpatient or outpatient).

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodologic quality of included studies. In this scale, case-control and cohort studies were scored on selection, comparability, and ascertainment of the outcome of interest. Data were independently abstracted to a predetermined collection form by 2 investigators. Summary odds ratio estimates with 95% CIs were calculated using the random-effects model and software to calculate the pooled effect size of studies reporting multivariate analyses.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Risk of recurrent infection in patients with CDI and its association with use of gastric acid suppressant medication.

RESULTS

Sixteen observational studies were included, together reporting 7703 patients with CDI; among these, 1525 patients (19.8%) developed recurrent CDI. The rate of recurrent CDI in patients with gastric acid suppression was 22.1% (892 of 4038 patients) compared with 17.3% (633 of 3665) in patients without gastric acid suppression, which indicated an increased risk by meta-analysis (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; 95% CI, 1.20-1.94; P < .001). There was significant heterogeneity among the studies, with an I2 value of 64%. Subgroup analyses of studies adjusting for age and potential confounders confirmed an increased risk of recurrent CDI with use of gastric acid suppressants (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.08-1.76; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Meta-analyses of observational studies suggest that patients who receive gastric acid suppressants may be at increased risk for recurrent CDI. These data should be interpreted with caution because they may be confounded owing to the observational design of the individual studies. It may be reasonable to re-evaluate the need for these medications in patients with CDI.

Cost-Effectiveness of Histamine2 Receptor Antagonists Versus Proton Pump Inhibitors for Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Critically Ill Patients

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the cost-effectiveness of stress ulcer prophylaxis with histamine₂ receptor antagonists (H2RAs) versus proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in critically ill and mechanically ventilated adults.

DESIGN

A decision analytic model estimating the costs and effectiveness of stress ulcer prophylaxis (with H2RAs and PPIs) from a health care institutional perspective.

PATIENTS

Adult mixed intensive care unit (ICU) population who received an H2RA or PPI for up to 9 days.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Effectiveness measures were mortality during the ICU stay and complication rate. Costs (2015 U.S. dollars) were combined to include medication regimens and untoward events associated with stress ulcer prophylaxis (pneumonia, Clostridium difficile infection, and stress-related mucosal bleeding). Costs and probabilities for complications and mortality from complications came from randomized controlled trials and observational studies. A base case scenario was developed with pooled data from an observational study and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Scenarios based on observational and meta-analysis data alone were evaluated. Outcomes were expected and incremental costs, mortalities, and complication rates. Univariate sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine the influence of inputs on cost, mortality, and complication rates. Monte Carlo simulations evaluated second-order uncertainty. In the base case scenario, the costs, complication rates, and mortality rates were $9039, 17.6%, and 2.50%, respectively, for H2RAs and $11,249, 22.0%, and 3.34%, respectively, for PPIs, indicating that H2RAs dominated PPIs. The observational study-based model provided similar results; however, in the meta-analysis-based model, H2RAs had a cost of $8364 and mortality rate of 3.2% compared with $7676 and 2.0%, respectively, for PPIs. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/death averted, H2RA therapy was superior or preferred 70.3% in the base case and 97.0% in the observational study-based scenario. PPI therapy was preferred 87.2% in the meta-analysis-based scenario.

CONCLUSION

Providing stress ulcer prophylaxis with H2RA therapy may reduce costs, increase survival, and avoid complications compared with PPI therapy. This finding is highly sensitive to the pneumonia and stress-related mucosal bleeding rates and whether observational data are used to inform the model.

A Comparison of Current Guidelines of Five International Societies on Clostridium difficile Infection Management

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasingly recognized as an emerging healthcare problem of elevated importance. Prevention and treatment strategies are constantly evolving along with the apperance of new scientific evidence and novel treatment methods, which is well-reflected in the differences among consecutive international guidelines. In this article, we summarize and compare current guidelines of five international medical societies on CDI management, and discuss some of the controversial and currently unresolved aspects which should be addressed by future research.

Clostridium difficile infection: a review of current and emerging therapies

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is the most common cause of ­healthcare-associated infections in US hospitals. The epidemic strain NAP1/BI/ribotype 027 accounts for outbreaks worldwide, with increasing mortality and severity. CDI is acquired from an endogenous source or from spores in the environment, most easily acquired during the hospital stay. The use of antimicrobials disrupts the intestinal microflora enabling C. difficile to proliferate in the colon and produce toxins. Clinical diagnosis in symptomatic patients requires toxin detection from stool specimens and rarely in combination with stool culture to increase sensitivity. However, stool culture is essential for epidemiological studies. Oral metronidazole is the recommended therapy for milder cases of CDI and oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin for more severe cases. Treatment of first recurrence involves the use of the same therapy used in the initial CDI. In the event of a second recurrence oral vancomycin often given in a tapered dose or intermittently, or fidaxomicin may be used. Fecal transplantation is playing an immense role in therapy of recurrent CDI with remarkable results. Fulminant colitis and toxic megacolon warrant surgical intervention. Novel approaches including new antibiotics and immunotherapy against CDI or its toxins appear to be of potential value.

Clostridium difficile recurrences in Stockholm

Sixty-eight hospital-admitted patients with a first episode of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) were included and followed up during 1 year. Faeces samples were collected at 1, 2, 6 and 12 months after inclusion and analyzed for the presence of C. difficile toxin B, genes for toxin A, toxin B, binary toxin and TcdC deletion by PCR. All strains were also PCR-ribotyped and the MICs of the isolates were determined against eight antimicrobial agents. In 68 patients initially included, antibiotics, clinical signs and co-morbidities were analyzed and 56 were evaluable for recurrences. The mean number of different antibiotics given during 3 months prior to inclusion was 2.6 (range 0-6). Six patients had not received any antibiotics and three of them had diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease. Thirty-two patients (57%) had either a microbiological or clinical recurrence, 16 of whom had clinical recurrences that were confirmed microbiologically (13, 23%) or unconfirmed by culture (3, 5%). Twenty-nine patients were positive in at least one of the follow-up tests, 16 had the same ribotype in follow-up tests, i.e. relapse, and 13 a different ribotype, i.e., reinfection. Most common ribotypes were 078/126, 020, 023, 026, 014/077, 001 and 005. No strain of ribotype 027 was found. Strains ribotype 078/126 and 023 were positive for binary toxin and were the strains most prone to cause recurrence. All strains were sensitive to vancomycin and metronidazole. Patients with recurrences were significantly older (p = 0.02) and all patients had a high burden of comorbidities, which could explain the high fatality rate, 26 (38%) patients died during the 1-year follow-up.

Clostridium difficile recurrent infection: possible implication of TA systems

Clostridium difficile is an important nosocomial pathogen associated with antibiotic treatments. C. difficile's ability to survive antimicrobial therapy and transition from inert colonization to active infection is one of the most perplexing aspects of C. difficile infections and suggests that additional mechanisms are involved in persistence. In this regard, novel mechanisms linked with pathogenesis and persistence of C. difficile such as toxin–antitoxin systems might significantly contribute to biofilm formation and persistent infection. This review will focus on advances of toxin–antitoxin systems in C. difficile and their putative roles will be discussed.

Outcome of relapsing Clostridium difficile infections do not correlate with virulence-, spore- and vegetative cell-associated phenotypes

One of the main clinical challenges of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) is the high rate of relapse episodes. The main determinants involved in relapse of CDI include the presence of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile spores in the colonic environment and a permanent state of dysbiosis of the microbiota caused by antibiotic therapy. A possible scenario is that phenotypes related to the persistence of C. difficile spores might contribute to relapsing infections. In this study, 8 C. difficile isolates recovered from 4 cases with relapsing infection, and 9 isolates recovered from single infection cases were analyzed for PCR ribotyping and the presence of tcdA, tcdB and cdtAB genes. Factors associated to spore persistence, sporulation, spore adherence and biofilm formation and sporulation during biofilm formation were characterized. We also evaluated motility and cytotoxicity. However, we observed no significant difference in the analyzed phenotypes among the different clinical outcomes, most likely due to the high variability observed among strains within clinical backgrounds in each phenotype and the small sample size. It is noteworthy that C. difficile spores adhered to similar extents to undifferentiated and differentiated Caco-2 cells. By contrast, spores of all clinical isolates tested had increased germination efficiency in presence of taurocholate, while decreased sporulation rate during biofilm development in the presence of glucose. In conclusion, these results show that, at least in this cohort of patients, the described phenotypes are not detrimental in the clinical outcome of the disease.