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Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
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Clostridium difficile increases the risk for venous thromboembolism.
Galinos Barmparas1, Nicole Fierro1, Alexander W Lamb1
1Division of Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
American Journal of Surgery
|September 2, 2014
Summary
Clostridium difficile infection significantly increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in surgical intensive care unit patients. This finding highlights a critical association requiring further clinical attention and preventative strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Infectious diseases
- Critical care medicine
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease is a known risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE).
- The association between Clostridium difficile infection and VTE risk was previously unknown.
- Surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients are a vulnerable population for VTE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether Clostridium difficile infection increases the risk of VTE in surgical ICU patients.
- To determine the independent association between C. difficile infection and VTE development.
- To compare VTE rates in patients with and without C. difficile infection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1,728 patients admitted to a surgical ICU from February 2011 to July 2013.
- Comparison of VTE incidence between patients who tested positive for C. difficile and those who did not.
- Statistical analysis including logistic regression to identify independent risk factors for VTE.
Main Results:
- 64 patients (3.7%) tested positive for C. difficile.
- Patients with C. difficile infection had a higher risk of VTE (23.4% vs 11.0%).
- C. difficile infection was independently associated with an increased risk of VTE (adjusted odds ratio: 1.87).
Conclusions:
- Clostridium difficile infection is an independent risk factor for VTE in surgical ICU patients.
- The findings suggest a need for increased vigilance for VTE in C. difficile-infected ICU patients.
- Further research may explore the mechanisms linking C. difficile infection to VTE.
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