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More sensitive detection methods needed for C. difficile
Findings from a recently published study shed some additional light on the many ways patients can become infected with Clostridium difficile, noting that infection is more common among patients in hospitals.
"Extra-intestinal C. difficile infections (CDIs) occur mainly in hospitalized patients with significant co-morbidities," study researcher Eero Mattila, MD, of Helsinki University Central Hospital, told Infectious Disease News. "Extra-intestinal CDIs in the abdominal area may result either from intestinal perforation after infection or after intestinal surgery. Wound infections may result from colonization by feces. C. difficile may reach distant sites via bacteremia. Mortality in extra-intestinal CDIs is associated with the severity of underlying diseases."
Eero Mattila
Mattila and colleagues searched a database for patients with extra-intestinal C. difficile infections and reviewed the 31 identified patients’ medical records.
“Two patients had bacteremic infections, four had abdominal infections without any prior surgery, seven had abdominal infections after surgery, four had perianal abscesses, 13 had wound infections, and one had C. difficile in a urinary catheter,” the researchers wrote, adding that the overwhelming majority of patients developed the infections while hospitalized.
The researchers said the disease was associated with mortality in about 36% of the patients, but deaths were generally associated with more severe illness.
Most of the C. difficile infections were found with other microbes.
“Detection of C. difficile in extra-intestinal sites remains a challenge and emphasizes the need for sensitive microbiologic detection methods,” the researchers said.
Eero Mattila can be reached at eero.mattila@hus.fi.
Disclosure: Mattila reports no relevant financial disclosures.