C Difficile Infection

Exposure to PPIs was associated with a moderate increase in the risk of community-acquired C diff infection, even after treatment discontinuation.

“A high or rising white blood cell count in isolation is not a sufficient indication for C diff infection testing,” the study authors said.

The findings should assuage concerns about small intestinal bacterial overgrowth when prescribing treatment with proton pump inhibitors.

The approval is based on results from the ENVISION I Phase 3 study, which showed biologic use linked to clinical remission and maintenance in patients.

Missed diagnosis resulted in delays in initiation of therapy and hospital re-admissions.

In results from a phase 2 trial show 7.5gm of DAV132 administered three times daily demonstrated protection against antibiotic-induced disruption of intestinal microbiota.

Patients with 3 or more C diff recurrences also had the highest health care resources utilization and total, all-cause, direct medical costs.

It’s possible that C diff could be a marker for frailty in geriatric patients.

Using piperacillin/tazobactam increases the risk for acute kidney injury, and this risk can be exacerbated by concurrent vancomycin.