Atypical cause of intractable diarrhea in a hemodialysis patient, masked by Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and ischemic colitis: a case report

Gastrointestinal symptom burden and dietary intake in patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can present a significant burden to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but the reported prevalence is inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the GI burden and dietary intake in patients with CKD with or without dialysis.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 216 adults, recruited from outpatient and dialysis clinics, with CKD stage 4 or 5 not receiving dialysis (CKD-ND), or receiving haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Three questionnaires were administered: the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS); a modified Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and a short Food Frequency Questionnaire. Outcomes were stool frequency and consistency, GI symptoms and dietary intake.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 216 patients (mean age, 63 years [95% CI: 61, 65]; 63% males; CKD-ND: n = 134; HD: n = 67; PD: n = 15). Mean stool frequency for all groups was one bowel action per day (p = .45) and consistency was normal (BSFS type 4, p = .95). Overall GI symptom burden was low but several symptoms occurred at least "most of the time" including "tiredness/lethargy" (54% of participants), "reduced appetite" (29%), "early satiety" (25%) and "change in taste" (15%). Low intakes of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole-grains and legumes were found. No associations were observed between diet and GI symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The overall GI symptom burden was low, but >15% of participants reported several symptoms as occurring most to all of the time. Low intakes of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole-grains and legumes were observed in all CKD patients.

Incidence, etiology, and severity of acute gastroenteritis among prospectively enrolled patients in 4 Veterans Affairs hospitals and outpatient centers, 2016-18

BACKGROUND

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) burden, etiology, and severity in adults is not well-characterized. We implemented a multisite AGE surveillance platform in 4 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (Atlanta, Bronx, Houston and Los Angeles), collectively serving >320,000 patients annually.

METHODS

From July 1, 2016-June 30, 2018, we actively identified AGE inpatient cases and non-AGE inpatient controls through prospective screening of admitted patients and passively identified outpatient cases through stool samples submitted for clinical diagnostics. We abstracted medical charts and tested stool samples for 22 pathogens via multiplex gastrointestinal PCR panel followed by genotyping of norovirus- and rotavirus-positive samples. We determined pathogen-specific prevalence, incidence, and modified Vesikari severity scores.

RESULTS

We enrolled 724 inpatient cases, 394 controls, and 506 outpatient cases. Clostridioides difficile and norovirus were most frequently detected among inpatients (cases vs controls: C. difficile, 18.8% vs 8.4%; norovirus, 5.1% vs 1.5%; p<0.01 for both) and outpatients (norovirus: 10.7%; C. difficile: 10.5%). Incidence per 100,000 population was highest among outpatients (AGE: 2715; C. difficile: 285; norovirus: 291) and inpatients ≥65 years old (AGE: 459; C. difficile: 91; norovirus: 26). Clinical severity scores were highest for inpatient norovirus, rotavirus, and Shigella/EIEC cases. Overall, 12% of AGE inpatient cases had ICU stays and 2% died; 3 deaths were associated with C. difficile and 1 with norovirus. C. difficile and norovirus were detected year-round with a fall/winter predominance.

CONCLUSIONS

C. difficile and norovirus were leading AGE pathogens in outpatient and hospitalized US Veterans, resulting in severe disease. Clinicians should remain vigilant for bacterial and viral causes of AGE year-round.