Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational study

AIMS OF THE STUDY Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with high morbidity, recurrence rates and mortality. We assessed the local epidemiology, treatment outcomes and risk factors for recurrence and mortality. METHODS This was a...

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Main Authors: Sebastian Haubitz, Nicole Bartlomé, Evelin Bucheli Laffer, Constanze Spelters, Hans Fankhauser, Christoph A. Fux
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) 2020-01-01
Series:Swiss Medical Weekly
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2721
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author Sebastian Haubitz
Nicole Bartlomé
Evelin Bucheli Laffer
Constanze Spelters
Hans Fankhauser
Christoph A. Fux
author_facet Sebastian Haubitz
Nicole Bartlomé
Evelin Bucheli Laffer
Constanze Spelters
Hans Fankhauser
Christoph A. Fux
author_sort Sebastian Haubitz
collection DOAJ
description AIMS OF THE STUDY Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with high morbidity, recurrence rates and mortality. We assessed the local epidemiology, treatment outcomes and risk factors for recurrence and mortality. METHODS This was a retrospective study of all adult CDI episodes treated in our tertiary care hospital between 2014 and 2016. Patients were followed up for 60 days, with recurrence and death as endpoints. Antibiotic treatment as well as epidemiological, clinical and laboratory parameters were studied using logistic regression analysis. Risk factors for recurrent CDI (age >70 years, haematological malignancy, chronic kidney disease, severe infection, continued antibiotics other than for CDI, proton pump inhibitor / antacid use) and indicators of severe CDI (temperature ≥38.5°C, leucocytes >15 × 109/l, creatinine increase ≥1.5 × baseline, albumin <25 g/l) were analysed. We considered episodes with ≥2 indicators as severe. RESULTS We identified 210 CDI episodes (66 severe) in 191 patients with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range 59–79). Hypervirulent ribotype 027/NAP1/BI accounted for four episodes (2%). Overall, 176, 30 and 4 patients, respectively, received a first, second and third treatment. Metronidazole was used in 94% of the first episodes and in 73% and 50% of the first and second recurrences, respectively. The recurrence rate after the first metronidazole treatment was 20%. Recurrence rates were higher when ≥2 risk factors were present (25 vs 10%, p = 0.03). The 60-day mortality was 17% (4% attributable to CDI) and increased with the presence of ≥2 indicators of severe CDI. CONCLUSIONS The high 60-day mortality suggests that CDI is a strong indicator of frailty. Metronidazole was associated with low recurrence rates at minimal costs in patients with uncomplicated CDI, but had relevant shortcomings in patients with severe CDI and/or a high risk of recurrence, suggesting that these vulnerable patients might better be treated with oral vancomycin and fidaxomicin, according to the latest guidelines.
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spelling doaj.art-f8a06162901a405c9b37f93aa8f143372022-12-22T04:42:25ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972020-01-01150010210.4414/smw.2020.20173Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational studySebastian Haubitz0Nicole Bartlomé1Evelin Bucheli Laffer2Constanze Spelters3Hans Fankhauser4Christoph A. Fux5Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Kantonsspital Aarau, SwitzerlandDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Kantonsspital Aarau, SwitzerlandDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Kantonsspital Aarau, SwitzerlandDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Kantonsspital Aarau, SwitzerlandInstitute for Laboratory Medicine, Kantonsspital Aarau, SwitzerlandDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland AIMS OF THE STUDY Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with high morbidity, recurrence rates and mortality. We assessed the local epidemiology, treatment outcomes and risk factors for recurrence and mortality. METHODS This was a retrospective study of all adult CDI episodes treated in our tertiary care hospital between 2014 and 2016. Patients were followed up for 60 days, with recurrence and death as endpoints. Antibiotic treatment as well as epidemiological, clinical and laboratory parameters were studied using logistic regression analysis. Risk factors for recurrent CDI (age >70 years, haematological malignancy, chronic kidney disease, severe infection, continued antibiotics other than for CDI, proton pump inhibitor / antacid use) and indicators of severe CDI (temperature ≥38.5°C, leucocytes >15 × 109/l, creatinine increase ≥1.5 × baseline, albumin <25 g/l) were analysed. We considered episodes with ≥2 indicators as severe. RESULTS We identified 210 CDI episodes (66 severe) in 191 patients with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range 59–79). Hypervirulent ribotype 027/NAP1/BI accounted for four episodes (2%). Overall, 176, 30 and 4 patients, respectively, received a first, second and third treatment. Metronidazole was used in 94% of the first episodes and in 73% and 50% of the first and second recurrences, respectively. The recurrence rate after the first metronidazole treatment was 20%. Recurrence rates were higher when ≥2 risk factors were present (25 vs 10%, p = 0.03). The 60-day mortality was 17% (4% attributable to CDI) and increased with the presence of ≥2 indicators of severe CDI. CONCLUSIONS The high 60-day mortality suggests that CDI is a strong indicator of frailty. Metronidazole was associated with low recurrence rates at minimal costs in patients with uncomplicated CDI, but had relevant shortcomings in patients with severe CDI and/or a high risk of recurrence, suggesting that these vulnerable patients might better be treated with oral vancomycin and fidaxomicin, according to the latest guidelines. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2721TreatmentmetronidazoleoutcomeRecurrence
spellingShingle Sebastian Haubitz
Nicole Bartlomé
Evelin Bucheli Laffer
Constanze Spelters
Hans Fankhauser
Christoph A. Fux
Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational study
Swiss Medical Weekly
Treatment
metronidazole
outcome
Recurrence
title Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational study
title_full Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational study
title_fullStr Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational study
title_full_unstemmed Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational study
title_short Outcome of Clostridioides difficile infections treated in a Swiss tertiary care hospital: an observational study
title_sort outcome of clostridioides difficile infections treated in a swiss tertiary care hospital an observational study
topic Treatment
metronidazole
outcome
Recurrence
url https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2721
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