Clostridium difficile enteritis: a review and pooled analysis of the cases

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infection diarrhea and usually restricted to infection of the colon. However, small bowel involvement of C. difficile infection has been reported. We performed a literature review and pooled analysis of the reported cases of C. difficile enteritis

A Pubmed literature database search and pooled analysis of the reported cases of C. difficile enteritis.

56 cases of C. difficile enteritis have been reported from 1980 to 2010; 48 cases were published since 2001. Median age was 55 years. 27 patients (48.2%) were female. 29 patients (51.8%) had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and 20 patients (35.7%) had predisposing medical condition(s) that might lead to an immunoincompetent state. 33 patients (58.9%) had colectomy with ileostomy and 13 patients (23.2%) had other small and/or large bowel surgery. Thirty four patients (60.7%) received ICU management and 18 patients (32.1%) died. We categorized the patients into two groups, 38 survivors (67.9%) 18 non-survivors (32.1%). Significantly older age was noted in non-survivors. Median age was 48 years and 66 years, respectively for survivors and non-survivors, P < 0.001. There were more patients with predisposing medical condition(s) among non-survivors, (13/18, 72.2%) than among survivors (7/38, 18.4%), P < 0.001.

C. difficile enteritis is still rare, however it seems to be increasingly reported in recent years. Surgically altered intestinal anatomies, advanced age, predisposing medical condition(s) that might lead to immunoincompetence appear to be at risk for developing C. difficile enteritis. Recognition of C. difficile infection not only in the colon but also in the small bowel may lead to improved outcomes.