Role of Clostridium difficile and Campylobacter jejuni in relapses of inflammatory bowel disease

Findings from recent studies on the role of Clostridium difficile and Campylobacter jejuni in exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease are in conflict. We examined stool specimens from 32 patients who had inflammatory bowel disease in relapse for the presence of C difficile and C difficile cytotoxin. In the last 19 cases stool specimens were also cultured for C jejuni. C difficile was identified in one patient who was receiving antimicrobial therapy. In no patient was C difficile cytotoxin detected. All cultures for C jejuni were negative. Routine screening of stool specimens for C difficile cytotoxin and C jejuni was not clinically useful in our patients during exacerbation of their inflammatory bowel disease.