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Clostridium difficile fecal toxin level is associated with disease severity and prognosis

Clostridium difficile fecal toxin level is associated with disease severity and prognosis BackgroundAntibiotic-associated colitis caused by Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. The pathogenesis of C. difficile colitis is mediated by bacterial toxins. C. difficile infection (CDI) severity may be determined by the fecal level of these toxins.ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to determine whether fecal C. difficile toxin (CDT) levels are associated with disease severity and prognosis.MethodsA cross-sectional study of patients admitted with CDI in a tertiary center between 2011 and 2015 was conducted. Fecal CDT levels were determined by quantitative ELISA. Severe CDI was defined as a leukocyte count of > 15 × 103 cells/μl, creatinine levels that deteriorated by > 1.5 times the baseline level, or albumin levels < 3 g/dl.ResultsSeventy-three patients were recruited for this study. Patients with severe CDI (n = 47) had significantly higher toxin levels compared to patients with mild to moderate CDI (n = 26) (651 ng/ml (IQR 138–3200) versus 164 ng/ml (IQR 55.2–400.1), respectively; p = 0.001). A high toxin level (>2500 ng/ml) was associated with an increased mortality rate (odds ratio 11.8; 95% confidence interval 2.5–56).ConclusionsThe fecal CDT level is associated with disease severity and mortality rate. Measuring CDT levels may be an objective and accurate way to define the severity of CDI. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png United European Gastroenterology Journal SAGE

Clostridium difficile fecal toxin level is associated with disease severity and prognosis

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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© Author(s) 2017
ISSN
2050-6406
eISSN
2050-6414
DOI
10.1177/2050640617750809
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

BackgroundAntibiotic-associated colitis caused by Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. The pathogenesis of C. difficile colitis is mediated by bacterial toxins. C. difficile infection (CDI) severity may be determined by the fecal level of these toxins.ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to determine whether fecal C. difficile toxin (CDT) levels are associated with disease severity and prognosis.MethodsA cross-sectional study of patients admitted with CDI in a tertiary center between 2011 and 2015 was conducted. Fecal CDT levels were determined by quantitative ELISA. Severe CDI was defined as a leukocyte count of > 15 × 103 cells/μl, creatinine levels that deteriorated by > 1.5 times the baseline level, or albumin levels < 3 g/dl.ResultsSeventy-three patients were recruited for this study. Patients with severe CDI (n = 47) had significantly higher toxin levels compared to patients with mild to moderate CDI (n = 26) (651 ng/ml (IQR 138–3200) versus 164 ng/ml (IQR 55.2–400.1), respectively; p = 0.001). A high toxin level (>2500 ng/ml) was associated with an increased mortality rate (odds ratio 11.8; 95% confidence interval 2.5–56).ConclusionsThe fecal CDT level is associated with disease severity and mortality rate. Measuring CDT levels may be an objective and accurate way to define the severity of CDI.

Journal

United European Gastroenterology Journal – SAGE

Published: Jun 1, 2018

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