Clostridium Difficile Infection - An Optimistic View

Abstract

Journal of Surgery IntroductionClostridium difficile is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming, toxin-producing bacteria identified as a cause of colitis associated with antibiotic use [1]. Previous exposure to antibiotics is the most important risk factor for CDI, leading to modification of the normal flora of the colon and decreasing the intestine's resistance to colonization [2]. Other risk factors for CDI are inflammatory bowel disease, immunodeficiency, hypoalbuminemia, malignancies, organ transplantation and mechanical bowel preparation. Despite the development of CDI therapy there is a growing incidence, severity, mortality and recurrence of this condition [3]. The high rate of recurrent CDI raises a question mark over current treatment recommendations of the first episodes of CDI [4,5]. Materials and MethodsWe identified all reported cases of CDI during the period of 2014-2016 using the digital database of the center for control, surveillance, and prevention of transmissible diseases in the Regional Oncologic Institute Iasi. All cases are registered in the database immediately after diagnosis, followed by epidemiological investigation and standardized protocols for isolation and protection of contacts. The admission charts were studied to extract the following information: age, sex, date of admission and release, date of CDI confirmation and toxin negativity. We also checked for antibiotic use in the last 3 months, administration of gastricantisecretory medication, previous hospitalization or contact with CDIconfirmed patients. For the surgical cases we gathered data about the date and type of intervention performed. Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile colitisEven if symptoms can be variable, typical symptom is watery diarrhea up to 15-30 stools per day [1,3]. Some patients can complain AbstractBackground: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common infectious complications affecting vulnerable patients, i.e., after surgery or immunosuppressive therapies, posing a significant risk in an oncological unit. Materials and methods:We analyzed data recovered from 164 cases of CDI during the period of 2014-2016 in the Regional Oncologic Institute Iasi, majority admitted in the surgical and hematological units. In all cases diagnostic was confirmed if stool samples tested positive for GDH and at least one of the toxins A or B. Results:The study shows a large population of elder patients (median age 64 years) with female dominance (54%). Out of 117 surgical cases 64% had surgical procedures on the gastro-intestinal tract. Although 20% of patients had equivocal symptoms from admission, the average interval (from admission) until first symptoms developed was 7 days. The confirmation of the diagnosis came in the next day/24h in 68% of cases, leading to initiation of efficient therapy. Although CDI is regarded as an antibiotic associated disease, our data revealed that only one third of patients received antibiotic treatment in the last 3 months. Among the risk factors that may have an influen...