Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Clostridium difficile as a cause of acute diarrhea: a prospective study in a tertiary care center
Meghraj Ingle1, Abhijit Deshmukh, Devendra Desai
1Division of Gastroenterology, P D Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Center, Veer Savarkar Marg, Mahim West, Mumbai 400 016, India.
Introduction:
Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is an increasing problem. Recent reports suggest presence of community acquired CDAD (CA CDAD). Studies in India have shown varied results.
Aims:
The following are the aims of this study: (a) the prevalence of CDAD and CA CDAD in patients with acute diarrhea; (b) the incremental yield of second stool sample for the diagnosis of C. difficile infection (CDI); and (c) the risk factors for CDI.
Patients And Methods:
Patients with acute diarrhea (<4 weeks) between April 2009 and December 2010 had two stool sample tested for C. difficile toxin (CDT) by enzyme-linked immunofluorescent assay. Demographic, clinical data, risk factors, clinical course, complications, treatment, and response were noted.
Results:
Of 150 patients (mean age, 47.3 years; 76 males), 12 (8 %) had their first stool sample positive for CDT. Two patients (1.3 %) had community acquired CDI. The study group was compared with 138 patients ("control group", stool samples negative for CDT). Compared to the controls, the study group were more likely to have had intensive care unit (ICU) stay (p = 0.018) and tube feeding (p = 0.035). Eleven patients were treated with metronidazole. One patient did not respond to metronidazole and was treated with vancomycin. No patient developed complications of CDAD.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of CDAD in our population was 8 % and of CA CDAD was 1.3 %. There was no advantage of testing two samples. ICU stay and tube feeding were major risk factors for the CDAD. Metronidazole was an effective first-line therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
01:18Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...