Patient Experiences with Clostridioides difficile Infection and Its Treatment: A Systematic Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of illness and death with profound effects on patient well-being.
• The humanistic burden of CDI, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), requires thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the patient experience of CDI, focusing on HRQoL and related outcomes.
• To assess patient attitudes towards existing and alternative treatments for CDI.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for English-language articles from 2010-2021.
• Included studies assessed CDI or recurrent CDI (rCDI) and patient-reported outcomes or HRQoL.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one articles met inclusion criteria from 511 initially identified.
• CDI significantly diminishes overall HRQoL, with effects persisting post-infection.
• Impacts on physical, emotional, social, and professional well-being are substantial, particularly for rCDI patients, who report isolation, depression, and fear of recurrence.

Conclusions:

• CDI and rCDI are debilitating conditions negatively impacting multiple facets of patients' lives long-term.
• There is a critical need for enhanced prevention, psychological support, and microbiome-targeted therapies to manage CDI.
• Development of additional safe and effective treatments is essential to address this unmet medical need.