A preliminary study of bowel rest strategy in the management of Clostridioides difficile infection

AbstractClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an important nosocomial infection and is the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients. We aimed to assess the effect of bowel rest on the management of CDI. A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted. The primary outcome was the composite of the all-cause mortality and CDI recurrence within 30 days. The main secondary outcome was switching from metronidazole to vancomycin. Of the 91 patients with CDI enrolled as the full cohort, 63 patients (69%) and 28 patients (31%) constituted the control group and the bowel rest group, respectively. After one-to-one propensity score matching, a total of 46 patients were included as the matched cohort. In the full cohort, the composite outcome occurred in 19.0% and 14.3% of the patients in the control and the bowel rest group, respectively (p = 0.768). In the matched cohort, it was 17.4% in each group. Although there was no statistically significant difference, the trend of switching was lower in the bowel rest group. The bowel rest may not affect the all-cause mortality and CDI recurrence within 30 days. However, in those prescribed bowel rest, switching from metronidazole to vancomycin may reduce.

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789. Evaluation of Bezlotoxumab for Prevention of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients at High Risk for Recurrence

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.979 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S438-S439

Author(s):

Tanner M Johnson ◽

Amanda Howard ◽

Kerry Schwarz ◽

Lorna Allen ◽

Misha Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Treatment Options ◽

High Risk Patient ◽

Recurrent Infection ◽

Control Group ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Clostridioides Difficile Infection

Abstract Background Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) within 180 days of the index episode is associated with a 33% increase in mortality and, to-date, few treatment options exist to prevent recurrent infection. Bezlotoxumab (BEZ) is a novel therapeutic option for the prevention of rCDI, yet limited data exist regarding its effectiveness in patients at high-risk for recurrence outside of controlled trials. This study aimed to compare BEZ to a historical standard of care (SoC) cohort for the prevention of rCDI in patients at high risk for recurrence. Methods A multi-center retrospective cohort study of patients within an academic health-system with one or more risk factors for rCDI. Patients received SoC with oral vancomycin (VAN) or fidaxomicin (FDX) from January 2015 to December 2017 or BEZ, in addition to oral SoC, from September 2017 to September 2019. The primary outcome was rCDI within 90 days of completion of oral VAN or FDX. Secondary outcomes included all-cause readmission, all-cause mortality, and safety events at 90 days. Results One-hundred twenty patients received BEZ in addition to SoC (n=47) or SoC alone (n=73). Mean (SD) age was 55 (16) years, mean (SD) number of lifetime CDI was 3 (2) episodes, and 30.8% of patients had severe CDI. Six (12.8%) patients in the BEZ cohort and thirty-one (42.5%) in the SoC cohort experienced rCDI at 90 days [OR (95% CI) = 0.20 (0.07-0.53), p=< 0.01]. Incidence of all-cause mortality (2.1% vs 5.5%, p=0.67) and all-cause readmission (42.6% vs 56.2%, p=0.20) within 90 days were not statistically different between groups. Patient body weight, timing of BEZ administration, CDI severity, nor prior receipt of fecal microbiota transplantation significantly affected BEZ effectiveness. BEZ was well tolerated with one infusion-related reaction. There were no heart failure exacerbations among BEZ recipients and two exacerbations identified from control group. Conclusion In patients with at least one risk factor for rCDI, BEZ in addition to SoC was associated with lower rates of recurrent infection than SoC alone and may be a reasonable adjunct therapy in high risk patient populations. Disclosures matthew miller, PharmD, Allergan (Speaker’s Bureau)Tetraphase (Speaker’s Bureau)

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Donepezil for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84243-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kyoungwon Baik ◽

Seon Myeong Kim ◽

Jin Ho Jung ◽

Yang Hyun Lee ◽

Seok Jong Chung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Treatment Group ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Difference

AbstractWe investigated the efficacy of donepezil for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD-MCI). This was a prospective, non-randomized, open-label, two-arm study. Eighty PD-MCI patients were assigned to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group received donepezil for 48 weeks. The primary outcome measures were the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Exam and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. Secondary outcome measures were the Clinical Dementia Rating, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III, Clinical Global Impression scores. Progression of dementia was assessed at 48-week. Comprehensive neuropsychological tests and electroencephalography (EEG) were performed at baseline and after 48 weeks. The spectral power ratio of the theta to beta2 band (TB2R) in the electroencephalogram was analyzed. There was no significant difference in the primary and secondary outcome measures between the two groups. However, the treatment group showed a significant decrease in TB2R at bilateral frontotemporoparietal channels compared to the control group. Although we could not demonstrate improvements in the cognitive functions, donepezil treatment had a modulatory effect on the EEG in PD-MCI patients. EEG might be a sensitive biomarker for detecting changes in PD-MCI after donepezil treatment.

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The Importance of Abnormal Platelet Count in Patients with Clostridioides difficile Infection

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132957 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2957

Author(s):

Shira Buchrits ◽

Anat Gafter-Gvili ◽

Jihad Bishara ◽

Alaa Atamna ◽

Gida Ayada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Platelet Count ◽

Medical Center ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Innate And Adaptive Immunity ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽

Multivariable Analyses ◽

Wbc Count

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes morbidity and mortality. Platelets have been increasingly recognized as an important component of innate and adaptive immunity. We aimed to assess the incidence of thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis in CDI and the effect of an abnormal platelet count on clinical outcomes. Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study consisted of all adult patients hospitalized in Rabin Medical Center between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2018 with laboratory confirmed CDI. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Risk factors for 30-day all-cause mortality were identified by univariable and multivariable analyses, using logistic regression. Results: A total of 527 patients with CDI were included. Among them 179 (34%) had an abnormal platelet count: 118 (22%) had thrombocytopenia and 61 (11.5%) had thrombocytosis. Patients with thrombocytosis were similar to control patients other than having a significantly higher white blood cell count at admission. Patients with thrombocytopenia were younger than control patients and were more likely to suffer from malignancies, immunosuppression, and hematological conditions. In a multivariable analysis, both thrombocytosis (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.01–3.52) and thrombocytopenia (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.01–2.89) were associated with 30-days mortality, as well as age, hypoalbuminemia, acute kidney injury, and dependency on activities of daily living. A sensitivity analysis restricted for patients without hematological malignancy or receiving chemotherapy revealed increased mortality with thrombocytosis but not with thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: In this retrospective study of hospitalized patients with CDI, we observed an association between thrombocytosis on admission and all-cause mortality, which might represent a marker for disease severity. Patients with CDI and thrombocytopenia also exhibited increased mortality, which might reflect their background conditions and not the severity of the CDI. Future studies should assess thrombocytosis as a severity marker with or without the inclusion of the WBC count.

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Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Ischemic Stroke

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000011440 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011440

Author(s):

Jong-Won Chung ◽

Won Hyuk Chang ◽

Oh Young Bang ◽

Gyeong Joon Moon ◽

Suk Jae Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Outcome Evaluation ◽

Autologous Serum ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Control Group ◽

Link Type ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Major Stroke

ObjectiveTo test whether autologous modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improve recovery in patients with chronic major stroke.MethodsIn this prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome evaluation, patients with severe middle cerebral artery territory infarct within 90 days of symptom onset were assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive preconditioned autologous MSC injections (MSC group) or standard treatment alone (control group). The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. The secondary outcome was to further demonstrate motor recovery.ResultsA total of 39 and 15 patients were included in the MSC and control groups, respectively, for the final intention-to-treat analysis. Mean age of patients was 68 (range, 28–83) years, and mean interval between stroke onset to randomization was 20.2 (range, 5–89) days. Baseline characteristics were not different between groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in the mRS score shift at 3 months (p = 0.732). However, secondary analyses showed significant improvements in lower extremity motor function in the MSC group compared to the control group (change in the leg score of the Motricity Index, p = 0.023), which was notable among patients with low predicted recovery potential. There were no serious, treatment-related adverse events.ConclusionsIntravenous application of preconditioned, autologous MSCs with autologous serum was feasible and safe in patients with chronic major stroke. MSC treatment was not associated with improvements in the 3-month mRS score, but we did observe leg motor improvement in detailed functional analyses.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class III evidence that autologous mesenchymal stem cells do not improve 90-day outcomes in patients with chronic stroke.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01716481.

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Gothenburg Very Early Supported Discharge study (GOTVED): a randomised controlled trial investigating anxiety and overall disability in the first year after stroke

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-019-1503-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lena Rafsten ◽

Anna Danielsson ◽

Asa Nordin ◽

Ann Björkdahl ◽

Asa Lundgren-Nilsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multidisciplinary Team ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Outpatient Rehabilitation ◽

Control Group ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Early Supported Discharge ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background and purpose Early supported discharge (ESD) has been shown to be efficient and safe as part of the stroke care pathway. The best results have been seen with a multidisciplinary team and after mild to moderate stroke. However, how very early supported discharge (VESD) works has not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate whether VESD for stroke patients in need of ongoing individualized rehabilitation affects the level of anxiety and overall disability for the patient compared with ordinary discharge routine. Methods A randomized controlled trial was performed with intention to treat analyses comparing VESD and ordinary discharge from hospital. All patients admitted at the stroke care unit at Sahlgrenska University Hospital of Gothenburg between August 2011 and April 2016 were screened. Inclusion occurred on day 4 using a block randomization of 20 and with a blinded assessor. Assessments were made 5 days post-stroke and 3 and 12 months post-stroke. Patients in the VESD group underwent continued rehabilitation in their homes with a multidisciplinary team from the stroke care unit for a maximum of 1 month. The patients in the control group had support as usual after discharge when needed such as home care service and outpatient rehabilitation. The primary outcome was anxiety as assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale (HADS-A). The secondary outcome was the patients’ degree of overall disability, measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results No significant differences were found between the groups regarding anxiety at three or 12 months post-stroke (p = 0.811). The overall disability was significantly lower in the VESD group 3 months post-stroke (p = 0.004), compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the groups 1 year post-stroke. Conclusions The VESD does not affects the level of anxiety compared to ordinary rehabilitation. The VESD leads to a faster improvement of overall disability compared to ordinary rehabilitation. We suggest considering coordinated VESD for patients with mild to moderate stroke in addition to ordinary rehabilitation as part of the service from a stroke unit. Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov: NCT01622205. Registered 19 June 2012 (retrospectively registered).

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THE ASPREE STUDY: DISABILITY-FREE SURVIVAL, UPDATED RESULTS, SUB-STUDIES, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ASPIRIN USE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2356 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S632-S633

Author(s):

Anne M Murray ◽

John McNeil ◽

Basil Eldadah

Keyword(s):

The Elderly ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

The Novel ◽

Free Survival ◽

Incident Cancer ◽

Significant Difference ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Observational Cohort ◽

The Rich ◽

And Performance

Abstract The NIA/NCI ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) Study was a landmark RCT of 19,114 healthy adults aged 70 (whites) and 65 (US minorities) in Australia and the US that demonstrated lack of effect of low dose aspirin (LDA:100 mg/d) on the novel primary end point of Disability- Free Survival (life free of disability and dementia) over a mean treatment of 4.7 years. Surprisingly, LDA was associated with a trend toward increased all cause mortality, driven by cancer deaths (results published NEJM September 2018). After the LDA intervention was halted in June 2017, ASPREE was extended as an observational cohort follow-on study, ASPREE-XT, to measure potential delayed LDA effects on ASPREE outcomes. The ASPREE study primary results will be summarized, and the rationale for and performance of the novel DFS geriatric outcome discussed. New results of the analysis of dementia as a secondary outcome will also be presented (both for overall dementia and Alzheimer’s disease). We will also examine the unexpected increased all-cause mortality attributed to cancer deaths, despite no significant difference between groups for all incident cancer, and effects of LDA on incident metastatic disease. The important implications of the ASPREE results for prescribing LDA for primary prevention in health elderly will be discussed, and the ASPREE-XT study design and progress described. Lastly, the breadth of the ASPREE sub-studies including the Biobank, Brain Imaging studies and Genomics, and opportunities to access the rich ASPREE data and collaborate with ASPREE investigators will be reviewed.

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Predictive Factors for the First Recurrence of Clostridioides difficile Infection in the Elderly from Western Romania

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56090439 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (9) ◽

pp. 439

Author(s):

Iosif Marincu ◽

Felix Bratosin ◽

Iulia Vidican ◽

Bianca Cerbu ◽

Mirela Turaiche ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infectious Diseases ◽

Predictive Factors ◽

Gastrointestinal Disease ◽

National Health System ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

The Elderly ◽

Control Group ◽

The European Union ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Clostridioides Difficile Infection

Background and objectives: At present, Romania and parts of the European Union are facing an increasingly challenging public health problem consisting of nosocomial Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), mostly in the elderly. Relapse cases have become more frequent, which present higher morbidity and mortality rates than the initial CDI infection. The aim of this study is to determine the predictive factors for recurrence, with the purpose of reducing the exposure of patients diagnosed with CDI, as well as aiming to initiate early treatment. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, we analyze a database from the First Department of Infectious Diseases at the Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology in Timisoara, looking for patient history of CDI recurrences. We analyzed CDI recurrence in patients aged ≥65 years from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019, identifying 77 cases of CDI recurrence. The determination of predictive factors for recurrence involved the formation of a randomized control group, consisting of 74 patients aged ≥65 years who were diagnosed with C. difficile enterocolitis, but did not suffer a recurrence and survived ≥2 weeks after symptom onset. Results: Immunocompromised status, pre-existing gastrointestinal disease, and fever on initial hospitalization for CDI were all found to be significant independent positive predictive factors for the condition recurring in elderly Romanian patients. Conclusions: As the geriatric population in Romania grows, the national health system becomes increasingly overburdened, both from a financial standpoint and a human resources perspective. The analysis of factors predictive for CDI recurrence is, thus, of the utmost importance, particularly for the early identification of patients most at risk of CDI recurrence. Our findings could help physicians to identify recurrence early, consequently benefitting patients by a rapid intervention with a potential decrease in the associated complications and mortality.

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Pros and cons of gastric bypass surgery in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes: nationwide, matched, observational cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023882 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. e023882 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Vasileios Liakopoulos ◽

Stefan Franzén ◽

Ann-Marie Svensson ◽

Mervete Miftaraj ◽

Johan Ottosson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Gastric Bypass ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Control Group ◽

Positive Effects ◽

All Cause Mortality

ObjectivesLong-term effects of gastric bypass (GBP) surgery have been presented in observational and randomised studies, but there are only limited data for persons with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) regarding postoperative complications.DesignThis is a nationwide observational study based on two quality registers in Sweden (National Diabetes Register, NDR and Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Register, SOReg) and other national databases.SettingAfter merging the data, we matched individuals with T2DM who had undergone GBP with those not surgically treated for obesity on propensity score, based on sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and calendar time. The risks of postoperative outcomes (rehospitalisations) were assessed using Cox regression models.ParticipantsWe identified 5321 patients with T2DM in the SOReg and 5321 matched controls in the NDR, aged 18–65 years, with BMI >27.5 kg/m² and followed for up to 9 years.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe assessed risks for all-cause mortality and hospitalisations for cardiovascular disease, severe kidney disease, along with surgical and other medical conditions.ResultsThe results agree with the previously suggested lower risks of all-cause mortality (49%) and cardiovascular disease (34%), and we also found positive effects for severe kidney disease but significantly increased risks (twofold to ninefold) of several short-term complications after GBP, such as abdominal pain and gastrointestinal conditions, frequently requiring surgical procedures, apart from reconstructive plastic surgery. Long-term, the risk of anaemia was 92% higher, malnutrition developed approximately three times as often, psychiatric diagnoses were 33% more frequent and alcohol abuse was three times as great as in the control group.ConclusionsThis nationwide study confirms the benefits and describes the panorama of adverse events after bariatric surgery in persons with obesity and T2DM. Long-term postoperative monitoring and support, as better selection of patients by appropriate specialists in interdisciplinary settings, should be provided to optimise the outcomes.

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Randomized Controlled Trial of Probiotic PS128 in Children with Tourette Syndrome

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13113698 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 3698

Author(s):

Chang-Chun Wu ◽

Lee-Chin Wong ◽

Chia-Jui Hsu ◽

Chianne-Wen Yang ◽

Ying-Chieh Tsai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Tourette Syndrome ◽

Performance Test ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Social Environmental

Tourette syndrome results from a complex interaction between social–environmental factors, multiple genetic abnormalities, and neurotransmitter disturbances. This study is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial using probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 as an intervention to examine if probiotics improve symptoms of children with Tourette syndrome. This study enrolled children aged 5 to 18 years old who fulfilled DSM-V diagnostic criteria for Tourette syndrome. Patients were assessed before initiating the trial, at one month, and at two months after randomization. The primary outcome was evaluated by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), and the secondary outcome studied the possible comorbidities in these children. The results revealed no significant difference in improvement in YGTSS between the control group and the PS128 group. As for secondary endpoints, an analysis of Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) showed improvement in commission and detectability in the PS128 group. In conclusion, although probiotics may not have tic-reducing effects in children with Tourette syndrome, it may have benefits on comorbidities such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Further studies are needed to clarify the effects of probiotics on the comorbidities of Tourette syndrome children.

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2389. Assessing the Time Course of Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Clostridioides difficile Infection

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.2067 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S825-S825

Author(s):

Katherine Panagos ◽

Natalia Blanco ◽

Surbhi Leekha ◽

Erik von Rosenvinge ◽

Emily Heil

Keyword(s):

Proton Pump ◽

Time Course ◽

Conditional Logistic Regression ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Clostridioides Difficile Infection ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a known risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and recurrence, even in the absence of antibiotic use. No studies have specifically assessed the increased risk for CDI based on PPI duration, given that PPIs are frequently newly prescribed during hospitalizations and infrequently discontinued, even when CDI has occurred. The aim of this project was to assess the time course of PPI utilization and risk of CDI. Methods We conducted a retrospective matched case–control study comparing patients who developed CDI (cases) with patients who did not develop CDI (controls, matched on age, gender, date of admission and hospital location) from a cohort of patients with a C.difficile PCR test order from an academic medical center. Patient charts were reviewed for PPI use prior to the date of the positive test and whether the PPI was started in the hospital or as a home medication (>30d, 30–90d, 90–180d, >180d). The primary comparison was odds of PPI use between cases and controls using conditional logistic regression adjusted for antibiotic exposure (SAS 9.4, Cary, NC). Results A total of 348 patients were included in the study, 174 cases and 174 matched controls. 65% of patients in the study received a PPI, 85% a PPI or H2 blocker and 95% of patients received antibiotics during their admission. Patients on PPIs as home medications were not at an increased risk of CDI (OR = 1.08 (95% CI 0.60–1.93)) compared with those not on PPIs. Patients whose PPIs were initiated in the hospital were at increased risk of CDI compared with those not on PPIs (OR = 1.4 (95% CI 0.81–2.41)). No significant difference was observed across time periods of PPI use prior to admission and development of CDI. Conclusion Patients who started PPIs during inpatient stays were at a higher risk of developing CDI than patients not exposed to PPIs. However, PPI use was not found to be significantly associated with CDI in this analysis, regardless of the time or duration of PPI prescription. The results may be confounded by the high frequency of PPI use and concomitant antibiotic use in both cases and controls. Further study is needed to evaluate the impact of short-course PPI prescriptions in inpatient settings on CDI. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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