Clostridium difficile infections elevate the risks for colectomy, mortality and postoperative complications after a colectomy for patients with ulcerative colitis, according to NEJM Journal Watch.
Researchers examined 1,754 patients with a new UC diagnosis for C. diff and its effects on post-colectomy outcomes. Here are five findings from the study.
1. The five-year cumulative risk among all the patients studied for developing C. diff was 3.4 percent
2. The one-, three- and five-year colectomy rates among those with no diagnosis of C. diff infection after UC diagnosis were 5 percent, 11 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
3. The one-, three- and five-year colectomy rates among those with UC who developed C. diff were 19 percent, 27 percent and 29 percent, respectively.
4. The five-year mortality rate after UC diagnosis was 4 percent among all patients compared with 18 percent for those with C. diff.
5. Being diagnosed with C. diff within 90 days before colectomy was associated with a nearly five-fold increased risk for postoperative complications.
"As the authors suggest, special efforts should be made to eradicate C. diff infections in patients with ulcerative colitis, including fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with multiple recurrences," the study concluded.
More articles on C. diff:
Clinical practice guidelines for C. diff prevention — 8 things to know
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2 diagnostic tests for C. diff yield very different results, study finds