Postinfectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome after Clostridium difficile Infection

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) frequently follows bacterial enterocolitis, and there are various reported incidences and clinical courses according to different pathogens. However, there have rarely been any reports regarding the PI-IBS caused by Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence and the risk factors for developing IBS following CDI. METHODS: We recruited 86 patients with CDI from January 2005 to October 2007 and also we recruited a comparative control group of 86 patients who had no previous history of any gastroenterological disease. The bowel symptoms were prospectively evaluated by phone through a set questionnaire. RESULTS: Of all the CDI patients, a total of 41 patients (47.6%) completed the questionnaires, and IBS developed in 8 patients (19.5%), of which 7 patients (87.5%) were the diarrhea type. A total of 51 patients (59.3%) from the control group completed the questionnaires, of which 4 patients (7.8%) developed IBS. Although there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.099), there was a tendency towards a higher incidence of developing IBS in the CDI patients group, as compared to that of the control group. Comparing the group that developed IBS with the group that didn't among the CDI patients, there were no significantly different factors except for a previous admission history before CDI. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of PI-IBS after CDI was 19.5%, and the IBS was predominantly the diarrhea-type. In the future, a large scale study needs to be conducted in order to evaluate the PI-IBS incidence after CDI and the risk factors that predispose patients to such conditions.