title: The relationship between inpatient fluoroquinolone use and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited evidence suggests there may be a link between fluoroquinolone use and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), but such an association remains unclear due to conflicting data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between inpatient fluoroquinolone use and CDAD; secondary objectives included the relationship between CDAD and fluoroquinolone selection, duration of therapy, and route of administration, as well as the association between fluoroquinolones and CDAD complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective, case-control study of adult inpatients diagnosed with CDAD during the period of July 2007-July 2008. In total, 174 case patients were matched on a 1:1 basis with controls. A thorough assessment of all inpatient antibiotic use was conducted, including regimens administered at our institution within the previous 8 weeks. Odds ratios were calculated using univariate logistic-regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Use of fluoroquinolones was not significantly different between patients with CDAD and matching controls (OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.09 to 2.10; p = 0.16). No relationship was found between CDAD and the individual fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin (OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.87 to 2.12; p = 0.18), levofloxacin (OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.62 to 2.22; p = 0.63), and moxifloxacin (OR 1.34; 95% CI 0.81 to 2.20; p = 0.25). Fluoroquinolone route of administration did not differ significantly between groups for patients receiving intravenous (OR 1.20; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.94; p = 0.46) or oral (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.44; p = 0.45) therapy. Complications from CDAD were not significantly increased by fluoroquinolone use (OR 1.37; 95% CI 0.72 to 2.61; p = 0.35).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inpatient administration of fluoroquinolones was not associated with CDAD at our institution. Fluoroquinolone use in patients who developed CDAD was not related to higher incidences of CDAD-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA. novellm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marilyn J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Novell
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Morreale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004403:Dysentery / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones