A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active Malignancy

Background. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness. Previous studies reported that patients with active malignancy are at high risk for CDIs, and yet they are still classified as nonsevere CDI and initially treated with metronidazol...

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Main Authors: Aaron Fisher, Pradeep Khanal, Ewa Gniado, Leila Khaddour, Molly Orosey, Ismail Hader, Siddhartha Yadav, Alexandra Halalau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7192728
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author Aaron Fisher
Pradeep Khanal
Ewa Gniado
Leila Khaddour
Molly Orosey
Ismail Hader
Siddhartha Yadav
Alexandra Halalau
author_facet Aaron Fisher
Pradeep Khanal
Ewa Gniado
Leila Khaddour
Molly Orosey
Ismail Hader
Siddhartha Yadav
Alexandra Halalau
author_sort Aaron Fisher
collection DOAJ
description Background. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness. Previous studies reported that patients with active malignancy are at high risk for CDIs, and yet they are still classified as nonsevere CDI and initially treated with metronidazole. Our aim is to investigate the need for the escalation of antibiotic therapy in patients with CDI and active cancer treated with oral metronidazole versus oral vancomycin. Methods. This is a retrospective study of adult patients admitted with CDI and any underlying active malignancy at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, from January 2008 to December 2014. Inclusion criteria included age > 18 years old, polymerase chain reaction- (PCR-) proven CDI, and active malignancy. Results. 197 patients were included in the final analysis. 44.8% of the metronidazole group required escalation of therapy compared to 15.2% in the vancomycin group (p value = 0.001). 29.8% of the combination group (metronidazole and vancomycin) underwent deescalation of antibiotics, which was significantly higher compared to 2.2% of patients in the vancomycin group (p value < 0.001). Discussion. Our results support the initial use of vancomycin or a combination (metronidazole and vancomycin) versus metronidazole in patients with CDI and active malignancy.
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spelling doaj-art-eba688aad84548838f9b0e9690caeca42025-08-20T02:22:20ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2018-01-01201810.1155/2018/71927287192728A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active MalignancyAaron Fisher0Pradeep Khanal1Ewa Gniado2Leila Khaddour3Molly Orosey4Ismail Hader5Siddhartha Yadav6Alexandra Halalau7Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USABronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI, USAUniversity of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USAHenry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USABeaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USABeaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USAMayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USABeaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USABackground. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness. Previous studies reported that patients with active malignancy are at high risk for CDIs, and yet they are still classified as nonsevere CDI and initially treated with metronidazole. Our aim is to investigate the need for the escalation of antibiotic therapy in patients with CDI and active cancer treated with oral metronidazole versus oral vancomycin. Methods. This is a retrospective study of adult patients admitted with CDI and any underlying active malignancy at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, from January 2008 to December 2014. Inclusion criteria included age > 18 years old, polymerase chain reaction- (PCR-) proven CDI, and active malignancy. Results. 197 patients were included in the final analysis. 44.8% of the metronidazole group required escalation of therapy compared to 15.2% in the vancomycin group (p value = 0.001). 29.8% of the combination group (metronidazole and vancomycin) underwent deescalation of antibiotics, which was significantly higher compared to 2.2% of patients in the vancomycin group (p value < 0.001). Discussion. Our results support the initial use of vancomycin or a combination (metronidazole and vancomycin) versus metronidazole in patients with CDI and active malignancy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7192728
spellingShingle Aaron Fisher
Pradeep Khanal
Ewa Gniado
Leila Khaddour
Molly Orosey
Ismail Hader
Siddhartha Yadav
Alexandra Halalau
A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active Malignancy
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active Malignancy
title_full A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active Malignancy
title_fullStr A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active Malignancy
title_full_unstemmed A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active Malignancy
title_short A Retrospective Study Analyzing the Appropriateness of Initial Treatment of Clostridium difficile in Patients with Active Malignancy
title_sort retrospective study analyzing the appropriateness of initial treatment of clostridium difficile in patients with active malignancy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7192728
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