Prevalence of diverticulosis in recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.
OBJECTIVE
To re-evaluate the theory that colonic diverticulosis is associated with relapse of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) in light of data suggesting increasing rates of CDAD infection and relapse.


METHODS
Charts were reviewed for patients with recurrent CDAD who had also had a prior colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. An age and gender matched control group was used to compare the prevalence of diverticulosis.


RESULTS
Twenty-two patients met the study criteria, and the prevalence of diverticulosis in patients with CDAD relapse was 23% compared to 32% in age and sex matched controls (P = 0.44). A significant proportion of patients with CDAD relapse had co-morbidities associated with immune suppression.


CONCLUSIONS
Diverticulosis does not appear to be associated with CDAD relapse.
Lipp
Michael J
MJ
Division of Digestive Diseases, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, United States. mlipp@chpnet.org
Pagovich
Odelya E
OE
Rabin
David
D
Min
Albert D
AD
Bernstein
Brett B
BB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors