Clostridioides difficile infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): an underestimated problem?
Pol Arch Intern Med
; 131(2): 121-127, 2021 02 26.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1112918
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The use of antibiotics and possibility of microbiota disruption during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) pandemic have raised questions about the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to assess the frequency of and risk factors for CDI in patients with COVID19. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
We conducted a retrospective, singlecenter evaluation study on the frequency of and risk factors for CDI in patients with COVID19 and in the prepandemic era. The analysis included 441 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2) infection and 2961 pa tients hospitalized before the pandemic.RESULTS:
A significant increase in the incidence of CDI was noted during the COVID19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period 10.9% versus 2.6%, P <0.001. Risk factors for CDI in patients with COVID19 included age, length of hospital stay, occurrence of diarrhea during hospitalization, use of antibiotics other than azithromycin, and coexistence of nervous system disease or chronic kidney disease-all of these factos had a weak association with CDI development. The multivariable logistic regression model indicated other unassessed variables that had an impact on the CDI incidence rate.CONCLUSIONS:
We observed a higher incidence of CDI in patients with COVID19. Antibiotic therapy was a relevant risk factor for CDI, although its effect was weak. Other drugs used during the pandemic were not found to have an impact on disease development. Possible causes of CDI may include fecal microbiota disruption by SARSCoV2 infection, but further research is needed to validate this hypothesis.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous
/
Clostridioides difficile
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Pol Arch Intern Med
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Pamw.15715
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