Clostridium difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease.
The importance of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection amongst patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly being recognized. Recent studies have demonstrated a concerning trend towards increased rates of infection, morbidity, mortality and health costs, and guidelines now promote testing for C. difficile in IBD patients experiencing a relapse. This critical review focuses on the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, treatment options and outcomes associated with C. difficile infection in patients with IBD.
Musa
Saif
S
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, St. George's Hospital, London, UK. catchMusa@hotmail.com
Thomson
Sam
S
Cowan
Matthew
M
Rahman
Tony
T
D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome