Serum albumin in risk assessment for Clostridium difficile

Risk factors, preemptive therapy, and antiperistaltic agents for Clostridium difficile infection in cancer patients

“…Among various predisposing factors for CDI , our analysis did not confirm increased risk with older age, female gender, and renal insufficiency, and the noncontributory effect of baseline serum albumin as a potential risk factor for CDI is noticeably different from that of several retrospective studies . Because CDI results in albumin loss through gut leakage, and CDI severity correlates with the degree of hypoalbuminemia , it is likely that serum albumin (obtained at diagnosis of CDI in these studies) is more a marker of infection severity than an explicit risk factor .…”

“…CDI, Clostridium difficile infection; L-ATM, lower alimentary tract mucositis; RRR, relative risk ratio; CI, confidence interval; IgA, immunoglobulin A; MM, multiple myeloma; ALB, serum albumin; BSA, body surface area; e-CrCl, estimated creatinine clearance; TX, Transplant; NE, no estimate. Table 3 that of several retrospective studies (11)(12)(13)(34)(35)(36). Because CDI results in albumin loss through gut leakage, and CDI severity correlates with the degree of hypoalbuminemia (37), it is likely that serum albumin (obtained at diagnosis of CDI in these studies) is more a marker of infection severity than an explicit risk factor (37).…”

Clostridium difficile Toxins A and B: Insights into Pathogenic Properties and Extraintestinal Effects

“…Besides antibiotic consumption, the main risk factors associated with the development of CDI are advanced age, impairment in humoral immunity, renal disease, hypoalbuminemia [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. The clinical manifestations associated with CDI range from asymptomatic colonization and mild diarrhea to toxic megacolon and life-threatening fulminant colitis [ 9 ].…”

The Protective Role of Albumin in Clostridium difficile Infection: A Step Toward Solving the Puzzle

“…[2][3][4][5] First, it was thought that hypoalbuminemia was merely a consequence of CDI-induced protein-losing enteropathy. 6 Evidence from subsequent studies showed that hypoalbuminemia actually predisposes the patient to CDI.…”