Infección por Clostridium difficile: descripción de las cepas NAP1/027 y de otros serotipos en un centro de alta complejidad de Cali, Colombia, 2012-2015 / Clostridium difficile infection: Description of NAP1/027 and non NAP1/027 strains in a high complexity center in Cali, Colombia, 2012-2015

Resumen Introducción. Clostridium difficile ocasiona infecciones hospitalarias que resultan en altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. La cepa NAP1/027 se ha asociado con una mayor producción de toxinas y con una mayor gravedad, lo que aumenta la carga de la enfermedad. Objetivo. Describir la epidemiología de las infecciones asociadas con C. difficile y las características de la cepa NAP1/027. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio observacional basado en la revisión de las historias clínicas de los pacientes con muestras de heces positivas para C. difficile identificadas mediante la prueba Xpert™ entre el 2012 y el 2015 en un hospital de alta complejidad. La gravedad de la enfermedad se evaluó con el índice ATLAS. Resultados. Se incluyeron 42 casos de pacientes infectados, 9 de los cuales fueron positivos para la cepa NAP1/027. El uso de antibióticos antes de la infección durante más de siete días fue más frecuente en los casos de pacientes con muestras negativas para NAP1/027. En la mitad de los pacientes, la duración de la diarrea fue mayor de cinco días y no hubo diferencias según el tipo de cepa (p>0,05). Los casos de pacientes positivos para la cepa NAP1/027 se caracterizaron por presentar deposiciones fétidas y sanguinolentas. La gravedad de la infección fue similar entre los grupos. Conclusión. Se comprobó la circulación de la cepa NAP1/027, pero su presencia no supuso diferencias clínicas significativas con respecto a otras cepas, lo cual podría deberse al limitado número de pacientes en este estudio. Sin embargo, su presencia debe alertar a los médicos y a las instituciones de salud, dada su frecuente asociación con la gravedad de la infección y la mortalidad.

Abstract Introduction: Clostridium difficile causes nosocomial infections leading to high morbidity and mortality. The NAP1/027 strain is associated with a higher toxin production and disease severity, which increases the load of the disease. Objective: To describe the epidemiology of the infections associated with C. difficile and the characteristics related to the NAP1/027 strain. Materials and methods: This was an observational study based on the revision of clinical registries of patients with fecal samples that were positive for C. difficile identified by the Xpert test™ between 2012 and 2015 in a high complexity institution. The severity of the disease was evaluated by means of the ATLAS score. Results: We included 42 infected cases, 9 of which were positive for the NAP1/027strain. The use of antibiotics previous to the infection for more than seven days was more frequent in patients with negative results for NAP1/027. The duration of diarrhea in half of the patients was longer than five days and there were no differences according to the type of strain (p>0.05). Positive cases for the NAP1/027 strain were characterized by presenting fetid and bloody stools. The severity of the infection was similar between the groups. Conclusions: In Colombia, the NAP1/027 strain circulates without significant clinical differences, which could be due to the limited number of patients. Nevertheless, the existence of NAP1/027 should alert physicians and health institutions because of its high association with severity and mortality.

Manejo actualizado de la diarrea asociada a Clostridium difficile / Updated management of diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile

The management of Clostridium difficile (CD) infection has changed in recent years. The latest clinical guidelines and systematic reviews suggest the use of vancomycin orally as the first line of treatment regardless the severity of the crisis (main difference compared to previous recommendations), this is due to changes in its epidemiology, the decrease in effectiveness and the increase of recurrences with the use of metronidazole, particularly in severe crisis. In addition, the use of new agents such as fidaxomicin has been approved. Fulminant crisis require an aggressive management combining oral treatment, enemas and intravenous therapy in addition to a collaborative management with the surgery team. With respect to recurrences, the use of vancomycin in pulses and with extended therapy schemes is suggested; fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is also an attractive therapy for patients with multiple recurrences. The following is a summary of the latest recommendations and available evidence regarding the management of CD infection in the most frequent situations, both in first crisis and in its recurrences.

El manejo de la infección por Clostridium difficile (CD) ha tenido modificaciones los últimos años. Las últimas guías clínicas y revisiones sistemáticas sugieren el uso de vancomicina vía oral como primera línea de tratamiento independiente de la severidad de la crisis (diferencia principal con recomendaciones previas), esto debido a cambios en su epidemiología, la disminución de la efectividad y al aumento de las recurrencias con el uso de metronidazol, particularmente en crisis severas. Además, han sido aprobados el uso de nuevos agentes como la fidaxomicina. Las crisis de carácter fulminante requieren un manejo agresivo combinando terapia oral, vía enemas e intravenosa, además de un manejo en conjunto con el equipo de cirugía. Respecto a las recurrencias se sugiere el uso de vancomicina en pulsos y con esquemas de terapia extendida siendo además, el trasplante de microbiota fecal (FMT) una terapia atractiva para pacientes con múltiples recurrencias. A continuación se resumen las últimas recomendaciones y evidencia disponible respecto del manejo de la infección por CD en las situaciones más frecuentes, tanto en la primera crisis como en sus recurrencias.

Inhibitory effect of Persea cordata Mez. (pau-andrade) bark extracts against Clostridium perfringens causing gangrenous mastitis

Introduction: Gangrenous mastitis is a special clinical presentation of mastitis in cattle and small ruminants. The bark of the tree Persea cordata Mez. is used in Brazilian ethnoveterinary medicine to treat wounds in farm animals. Objectives: Examine in vitro antimicrobial action of apolar fractions of P. cordata bark against a wild strain of C. perfringens isolated from the udder of a cow with gangrenous mastitis, and against a reference strain. Methods: A milk sample was collected from the udder, aliquots were diluted and Gram-stained smears were performed. The aliquots were inoculated in broth and planted in blood agar, and then incubated in anaerobiosis at 37oC / 24h. Biochemical identification was based on bacterial isolation. In vitro inhibitory activity of apolar fractions of P. cordata was evaluated by agar diffusion and MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) using the agar dilution method. Results: In both tests the plant extracts displayed significant in vitro inhibitory activity against the clinical and reference strains of C. perfringens assayed. Conclusion: The study is the first demonstration of the inhibitory effect of P. cordata on C. perfringens, due to its antimicrobial properties, which serves as evidence supporting its folk use. The extracts could be used as coadjuvants in the treatment of gangrenous mastitis(AU)

Introducción: la mastitis gangrenosa es una presentación clínica especial de mastitis en el ganado y pequeños rumiantes. Persea cordata Mez. , es un árbol conocido en la etnoveterinaria brasileña, cuya corteza se utiliza en la curación de heridas en animales de granja. Objetivos: investigar el efecto antimicrobiano in vitro de fracciones apolares de la corteza de P. cordata contra una cepa salvaje de C. perfringens, aislada de la ubre de una vaca con mastitis gangrenosa y una cepa de referencia. Métodos: Se recogió una muestra de leche de la ubre, se diluyeron alícuotas, y se realizaron frotis teñidos por Gram. Las alícuotas fueron inoculadas en caldo y sembradas en agar sangre, y posteriormente incubados en anaerobiosis a 37 oC/24h. La identificación bioquímica fue realizada a partir del aislamiento bacteriano. La actividad inhibitoria in vitro de las fracciones apolares de P. cordata fue evaluada utilizando la técnica de difusión en agar y la CMI (concentración minima inhibitoria) mediante el método de dilución en agar. Resultados: los extractos de la planta, en ambas pruebas, presentaron significativa actividad inhibitoria in vitro contra las cepas clínica y de referencia de C. perfringens ensayadas. Conclusión: se concluyó que, por primera vez, se demuestra un efecto inhibitorio de P. cordata sobre C. perfringens, reforzando el uso popular, debido a sus propiedades antimicrobianas. Los extractos podrán ser utilizados como coadyuvantes en el tratamiento de la mastitis gangrenosa(AU)

Analysis of risk factors and clinical manifestations associated with Clostridium difficile disease in Serbian hospitalized patients

Abstract Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of infectious diarrhoea in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors important for the development of hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile-associated disease and clinical manifestations of Clostridium difficile-associated disease. The clinical trial group included 37 hospitalized patients who were selected according to the inclusion criteria. A control group of 74 hospitalized patients was individually matched with cases based on hospital, age (within 4 years), sex and month of admission.Clostridium difficile-associated disease most commonly manifested as diarrhoea (56.76%) and colitis (32%), while in 8.11% of patients, it was diagnosed as pseudomembranous colitis, and in one patient, it was diagnosed as fulminant colitis. Statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were found with the presence of chronic renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and haemodialysis. In this study, it was confirmed that all the groups of antibiotics, except for tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, were statistically significant risk factors for Clostridium difficile-associated disease (p < 0.05). However, it was difficult to determine the individual role of antibiotics in the development of Clostridium difficile-associated disease. Univariate logistic regression also found that applying antibiotic therapy, the duration of antibiotic therapy, administration of two or more antibiotics to treat infections, administering laxatives and the total number of days spent in the hospital significantly affected the onset of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (p < 0.05), and associations were confirmed using the multivariate model for the application of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.001), duration of antibiotic treatment (p = 0.01), use of laxatives (p = 0.01) and total number of days spent in the hospital (p = 0.001). In this study of patients with hospital-acquired diarrhoea, several risk factors for the development of Clostridium difficile-associated disease were identified.

Consenso chileno de prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la diarrea asociada a Clostridium difficile / Chilean consensus of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea

Background: Clostridium dijfficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has become very important due to the increase in its incidence, severity, recurrence and the associated economic burden. Having a national consensus guideline is essential to improve its management. Objective: To build a multidisciplinary and evidence-based consensus in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of CDAD. Methods: We convened a panel of experts in the field of infectious diseases, gastroenterology, evidence-based medicine and consensus methodology. The panel conducted a structured review of published literature in CDAD evaluating evidence levels and recommendation degree according to the methodology proposed by the GRADE working-group. A modified three-round Delphi technique was used to reach a consensus among the experts. Results: A group of 16 experts was established, 12 of them answered 18 clinically relevant questions. The levels of agreement achieved by the panel of 16 experts were 79% in the first round and 100% in the second and third round. The main consensus recommendations in prevention are: restricting the use of proton-pump inhibitors, primary prophylaxis with probiotics in antibiotics users, education of health personnel, isolation for patients hospitalized with CDAD, and cleaning the rooms exposed to C. difficile with products based in chlorine or hydrogen peroxide. In the diagnosis: use of biology molecular-based techniques is preferred and if not available, glutamate dehydrogenase-based algorithms may be recommended. With regard to treatment: the use of oral metronidazole in mild-moderate CDAD and oral vancomycin in severe CDAD are recommended. Treat the first recurrence with the same antibiotics according to severity. In the case of second and subsequent recurrences consider prolonged therapy with vancomycin, rifaximin or fecal microbiota transplant. Conclusion: The first Chilean consensus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of CDAD is presented, which is a major step in improving national standards in the management of this disease.

Introducción: La diarrea asociada a Clostridium difficile (DACD) ha adquirido gran relevancia debido al aumento en su incidencia, gravedad, capacidad de recurrencia y carga económica asociada. Contar con una guía de consenso local es fundamental para mejorar su manejo. Objetivo: Elaborar un consenso multidisciplinara y basado en la evidencia en la prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la DACD. Métodos: Se convocó a un panel de expertos en el área de enfermedades infecciosas, gastroenterología, medicina basada en la evidencia y metodología de consenso. El panel realizó una revisión estructurada de la literatura científica publicada en DACD evaluando el nivel de la evidencia y recomendación utilizando el sistema GRADE. Una técnica de Delfi modificada de tres rondas fue utilizada para alcanzar un consenso entre los expertos. Resultados: Se estableció un grupo de 16 expertos, 12 de ellos respondieron 18 preguntas de relevancia clínica. Los niveles de acuerdo alcanzados por el panel de 16 expertos fueron de 79% en la primera ronda y 100% en la segunda y tercera ronda. Las principales recomendaciones en prevención son: restricción del uso de inhibidores de la bomba de protones, profilaxis primaria con probióticos en usuarios de antimicrobianos de corto plazo, educación del personal de salud, aislamiento de contacto en pacientes hospitalizados con DACD y aseo de las habitaciones expuestas a C. difficile con productos en base a cloro o peróxido de hidrógeno. En el diagnóstico se recomienda: el uso de técnicas basadas en biología molecular y como alternativa algoritmos en base a glutamato deshidrogenasa. Con respecto al tratamiento, se recomienda el uso de metronidazol oral en DACD leve-moderada y vancomicina oral en DACD grave. El tratamiento de la primera recurrencia es con los mismos antimicrobianos de acuerdo a la gravedad, considerando en la segunda recurrencia y posteriores terapia prolongada con vancomicina, rifaximina o trasplante de microbiota fecal. Conclusión: Se presenta el primer consenso chileno en prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de DACD, paso trascendental en mejorar los estándares locales en el manejo de esta enfermedad.

Clostridium difficile: desde el metronidazol al trasplante fecal / Clostridium difficile: from metronidazole to fecal transplant

Clostridium difficile has become one of the main health care-associated infections. During the last decade increase in its incidence, recurrence, colectomy rate and mortality rate has made it necessary to establish the effectiveness of traditional therapies and has motivated the development of new therapies. New antibiotic treatments and alternative therapies have challenged management algorithms, especially in recurrent C. difficile infection. These include the fidaxomicin antibiotic which is selective against C. difficile and fecal microbiota transplantation. This review discussed therapies that are currently in use, their place in management algorithms and provides insight on developing therapies.

Clostridium difficile se ha convertido en una de las principales infecciones asociada a la atención de salud. El aumento en la última década de su incidencia, recurrencia, tasa de colectomía y mortalidad ha hecho necesario establecer la efectividad de las terapias tradicionalmente usadas y ha motivado el desarrollo de nuevas terapias. Nuevos tratamientos antibióticos, así como terapias alternativas a los antibióticos han desafiado los algoritmos de manejo, sobre todo en la infección por C. difficile recurrente. Entre éstos destacan el antibiótico fidaxomicina que es selectivo contra C. difficile y el trasplante de microbiota fecal. En esta revisión se analizan las terapias en uso actualmente, su lugar en los algoritmos de manejo y se dan luces sobre las terapias en desarrollo.

Diarrea asociada a Clostridium difficile en niños / Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea in children

Introduction: Clostridium difficile is the most commonly isolated organism in antimicrobial and health care-associated diarrhea and is growing in relevance in community-acquired infections. It is a Gram-positive bacillus acquired via the fecal-oral route in the community and in hospital setting. Epidemiology: 0.6 to 2.1% worldwide incidence, mortality ~ 1-5%. Colonization: High rates of asymptomatic colonization in healthy people, 37% in children: its presence in stools is of controversial significance. Risk factors in children are prior exposure to antibiotics, recent hospitalization, immunosuppression or inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical manifestations: secondary to intestinal involvement due to toxin production, ranging from asymptomatic colonization to fulminant disease. Diagnosis: Clinical diagnostic criteria plus high sensitivity and specificity laboratory certification. Recommendations AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics): under 1 year, avoid routine study, only in Hirschsprung disease and/or nosocomial outbreak, 1-3 year, a (+) result suggests C. difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) is possible, and in children older than 3 years interpretation is equal to adults. Management: antimicrobial suspension, oral metronidazole as first line in mild to moderate CDAD, and oral or enema vancomycin or associated with intravenous metronidazole only in severe cases. Duration 10 days. Prevention: Antimicrobial control programs and environmental management. Conclusion: Given the increasing complexity of pediatric patients it is important to deepen the knowledge on this microorganism and its clinical manifestations, as its incidence, morbidity and mortality are increasing.

Introducción: Clostridium difficile, microorganismo más común en diarrea asociada a antimicrobianos, a atención de salud y en aumento en la comunidad es un bacilo grampositivo adquirido vía fecal oral en la comunidad y en el ambiente hospitalario. Epidemiología: Incidencia mundial 0,6-2,1%, mortalidad~1-5%. Colonización: Alta colonización asintomática en personas sanas, niños 37%, su presencia en las deposiciones es controversial. Factores de riesgo en niños: exposición previa a antimicrobianos, hospitalización reciente, inmunosupresión o enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Clínica: Compromiso intestinal secundario a la producción de toxinas. Puede variar desde una colonización asintomática hasta enfermedad fulminante. Diagnóstico: La certificación diagnóstica requiere de un criterio clínico más laboratorio rápido, con elevada sensibilidad y especificidad. Recomendaciones de American Academy of Pediatrics son en lactantes bajo un año, evitar estudio rutinario, sólo enfermedad de Hirschprung y/o brote nosocomial, entre 1-3 años; un resultado (+) indica DACD posible y en mayores de 3 años los criterios son igual a adultos. Manejo: Suspensión de antimicrobianos, metronidazol ev como primera línea en niños con DACD leve a moderada y vancomicina oral, enema o asociada a metronidazol intravenoso sólo en casos graves. Duración 10 días. Prevención: Control de antimicrobianos y manejo ambiental. Conclusión: Dada la creciente complejidad de pacientes pediátricos, es importante profundizar sobre este microorganismo y el desarrollo de enfermedad, ya que su incidencia y morbi-mortalidad van en aumento.

A meta-analysis of metronidazole and vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, stratified by disease severity

The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of metronidazole and vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridium difficileinfection, especially to investigate which agent was superior for treating either mild or severe C. difficileinfection. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies identified in Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Four randomized controlled trials and two cohort studies involving 1218 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Metronidazole was inferior to vancomycin for treating C. difficileinfection in terms of both initial clinical cure rates (risk ratio, RR = 0.91, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.84-0.98, p= 0.02) and sustained cure rates (RR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.82-0.96, p= 0.003). For mild C. difficileinfection, the efficacy of metronidazole and vancomycin resulted in similar clinical cure rates (RR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.84-1.04, p= 0.21) and sustained cure rates (RR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.83-1.05, p= 0.26). For severe C. difficileinfection the efficacy of vancomycin was superior to metronidazole in terms of clinical cure rates (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.69-0.95, p= 0.009), whereas sustained cure rates were similar (RR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.72-1.02, p= 0.08). Regarding microbiological cure metronidazole therapy was as effective as vancomycin therapy (RR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.64-1.21, p= 0.43). Recurrence rates with metronidazole and vancomycin for both mild C. difficileinfection (RR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.56-1.60, p= 0.85) and severe C. difficileinfection (RR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.85-1.91, p= 0.25) were not different. Likewise, no difference in all-cause mortality was found as well (RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.56-1.35, p= 0.53). In conclusion, vancomycin provides improved initial clinical and sustained cure rates in patients with C. difficileinfection compared with metronidazole, especially in patients with severe C. difficileinfection. In view of these data, vancomycin may be considered first line therapy for severe C. difficileinfection.

Liver Abscess in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Sorafenib Treatment / 대한소화기학회지

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a critical global health issue and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of patients who present HCC are already at an advanced stage and their tumors are unresectable. Sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and was recently introduced as a therapy for advanced HCC. Furthermore, studies have shown that oral sorafenib has beneficial effects on survival. However, many patients experience diverse side effects, and some of these are severe. Liver abscess development has not been previously documented to be associated with sorafenib administration in HCC. Here, we report the case of a HCC patient that developed a liver abscess while being treated with sorafenib.

Recent changes in Clostridium difficile infection / Recentes mudanças da infecção por Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is the main cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Diarrhea associated with C. difficile has increased incidence, morbidity, and mortality in the last few years. The major related risk factors include use of antibiotics, elderly patients and prolonged hospital stay. Many patients receive combinations of antibiotics or multiple antibiotics, which represents the main risk to develop diarrhea associated to C. difficile or its recurrence. Therefore, interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing, as well as compliance with infection control measures can reduce hospital-acquired C. difficile infections. This review addresses the epidemiological changes in C. difficile disease and its treatment.

Clostridium difficile é a principal causa de diarreia hospitalar. A diarreia por C. difficile aumentou sua incidência e sua morbiletalidade nos últimos anos. Os principais fatores de risco relacionados são uso de antibióticos, idosos e permanência hospitalar prolongada. Muitos pacientes recebem combinação de antibióticos ou múltiplos antibióticos, constituindo-se, assim, o principal fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de infecção ou de recorrência de diarreia associada ao C. difficile. Por isso, intervenções que otimizem a prescrição de antibióticos associado à aderência de medidas de controle de infecção podem reduzir aquisição dessa infecção. Assim, esta revisão aborda a mudança da epidemiologia da infecção por C. difficile e seu tratamento.

A case of emphysematous hepatitis with spontaneous pneumoperitoneum in a patient with hilar cholangiocarcinoma / 대한간학회지

An 80-year-old woman with hilar cholangiocarcinoma was hospitalized due to sudden-onset abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed hepatic necrosis accompanied with emphysematous change in the superior segment of the right liver (S7/S8), implying spontaneous rupture, based on the presence of perihepatic free air. Although urgent percutaneous drainage was performed, neither pus nor fluids were drained. These findings suggest emphysematous hepatitis with a hepatic mass. Despite the application of intensive care, the patient's condition deteriorated rapidly, and she died 3 days after admission to hospital. Liver gas has been reported in some clinical diseases (e.g., liver abscess) to be caused by gas-forming organisms; however, emphysematous hepatitis simulating emphysematous pyelonephritis is very rare. The case reported here was of fatal emphysematous hepatitis in a patient with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

A study of Clostridium difficile-associated disease at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Currently, in established antibiotic era, there is a widespread and increasing use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Clostridium difficile, one of the troublesome intruders, flourishes when normal gut flora is altered by antibiotics. C. difficile is recognized as a frequent and leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis. It causes substantial morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at determining patient characteristics, clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) in hospitalized patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 2002 to 2005, 88 patients with positive latex immunoassay for C. difficile toxin A were identified. Data from medical records of 56 patients were available for analysis. RESULTS: Of 56 patients, there were 28 males and 28 females, with the mean age of 47.39 years (range: 4 months to 93 years). 50 (89.3%) patients had underlying illnesses with hematological malignancies (14 patients, 25%) and solid tumors (15 patients, 26.8%) being the most common. All patients had a history of antibiotic use including current (17 patients, 30.4%), recent (16 patients, 28.6%), or both current and recent uses (23 patients, 41.1%). Cephalosporins and carbapenems were the two most commonly prescribed antibiotics. 25 (44.6%) patients were receiving either omeprazole or ranitidine. 12 (21.4%) patients had received chemotherapy within two months before CDAD diagnosis. Of 50 stool specimens examined, only 26 (52%) had white or red blood cells. Colonoscopy was performed in only three patients, and pathological findings revealed non-specific colitis. Oral metronidazole, intravenous metronidazole, and vancomycin were prescribed for CDAD treatment in 38 (67.9%), 4 (7.1%), and 2 (3.6%) patients, respectively. 8 (14.3%) patients had no specific treatment, and the offending antibiotic was not discontinued in three of them. An overall initial response rate was 66.7%. 2 patients relapsed after metronidazole treatment. CONCLUSION: The present study is the first in Southeast Asia to describe the decreased initial response rate of metronidazole treatment of CDAD. The reasons for this relatively poor response in the presented patients need to be determined in a future study.

Nosocomial diarrhea in the intensive care unit

We made an epidemiological case-control study to examine risk factors for the development of diarrhea in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a public hospital in Santo André, SP, from January to October 2002. Forty-nine patients with diarrhea (cases) and 49 patients without diarrhea (controls), matched for age and gender, were included in the study. A stool culture and enzyme immunoassays for Clostridium difficile toxins A and B were performed on fecal specimens from diarrhea patients. Fourteen of them presented positive cultures for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 22 patients presented positive ELISA for Clostridium diffícile. Nosocomial diarrhea was associated with several factors, including use of antibiotics (P=0.001), use of ceftriaxone (P=0.001), presence of infection (P=0.010) and length of hospital stay (P=0.0001).

Non-antibiotic associated C. difficile diarrhea in a 7 week-old infant.

We describe a rare case of non-antibiotic associated severe C. difficile diarrhea in a 7-week-old boy. He had massive fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance. He required total parentral nutrition for 10 days and eventually recovered with oral metronidazole. Most of the reported cases in literature are associated with prior antibiotic exposure or in hospitalized patients.

Brote de infección intrahospitalaria por clostridium difficile / Hospital infection outbreaks by clostridium difficile

Un brote de infección nosocomial por clostridium difficile afectó a tres pacientes de sexo femenino admitidas a una misma sala de hospitalización en un plazo no superior a 15 días. Los 3 casos (65 a 84 años) tenían antecedentes de uso de antibióticos (ciprofloxacina en dos de ellas) o habían sufrido procedimientos gastrointestinales (en dos casos). Los 3 casos se presentaron con diarrea acuosa con leucocitos fecales positivos y fueron tratados con metronidazol con buena respuesta. Un caso falleció por causas no claramente relacionadas a una infección por este agente. Las infecciones en el servicio respectivo desaparecieron luego de un programa de capacitación al personal profesional y no profesional y de la aplicación de un aislamiento de contacto. Clotridium difficile es el principal agente de diarreas infecciosas nosocomiales. Las infecciones por esta bacteria pueden presentarse como casos endémicos o en brotes intrahospitalarios bien definidos. La participación de C. difficile como causa de diarrea a nivel hospitalario es explicada por la existencia de pacientes susceptibles y por la alta transmisibilidad de este agente. Diversos factores de riesgo están asociados a la susceptibilidad que presentan algunos pacientes a desarrollar diarreas por este microorganismo esporulado, y ellas incluyen el uso previo de antibióticos, la edad y procedimientos o medicamentos que alteran la microbiota colónica normal. Numerosas publicaciones han sido reportadas sobre brotes nosocomiales provocados por esta bacteria, que han afectado a diferentes tipos de pacientes. El propósito de este trabajo, es comunicar y analizar un brote ligado a este agente, el que se presentó poco después de incorporar en el laboratorio técnicas de detección para esta bacteria