Management and characteristics of patients suffering from Clostridiodes difficile infection in primary care

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of patients with confirmed Clostridiodes difficile infection according to clinical issue status.

	Recovery	Recurrent infection	p-value
Total – no.(%)	25 (61)	16 (39)	–
Age – no.(%)**:
<30 yr	2 (8)	1 (6.25)
30–65 yr	19 (76)	6 (37.5)	0.02
>65 yr	4 (16)	9 (56.2)
Female sex – no. (%)*	15 (60)	10 (62.5)	0.99
Primary infection – no. (%)*	25 (100)	12 (75)	0.02
Symptoms of current C. difficile infection – no. (%):
Febrile diarrhoea and/or inflammation*	9 (36)	6 (37.5)	0.99
Haemorrhagic and/or diarrhoea with mucus*	12 (48)	5 (31.2)	0.34
Dyspepsia and/or abdominal pain*	8 (32)	7 (43.8)	0.52
- Long-lasting diarrhoea despite anti-diarrheal drugs**	13 (52)	10 (62.5)	0.51
Past medical history – no. (%):
Immunodepression*	1 (4)	2 (12.5)	0.55
Inflammatory bowel disease*	1 (4)	3 (18.8)	0.28
Previous hospitalisation*	5 (20)	8 (50)	0.1
No past medical history*	18 (72)	3 (18.8)	0.001
Recent history of antibiotic use – no. (%):**	17 (68)	9 (56.2)	0.44
Amoxicillin	5 (20)	3 (18.8)	0.58
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid	7 (28)	3 (18.8)
Third-Generation Cephalosporins	1 (4)	2 (12.5)
Other	4 (15)	1 (6.25)
Use of proton pump inhibitors – no. (%)*	7 (28)	4 (25)	0.99
Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – no. (%) *	6 (24)	0 (0)	0.06
Use of laxatives/ antidiarrheal agents – no. (%)*	1 (4)	5 (31)	0.03

*Univariate analyses according to Fisher’s exact test or Chi-square test** for categorised variables.

Table 2. Strategies, therapeutic methods used and duration of diarrhoea in the two groups after the initiation of specific treatment.

	Recovery	Recurrent infection	p value
Total – no.(%) 25 (61) 16 (39) -
Specific drug prescription – no. (%):**
Metronidazole	23 (92)	11 (68.8)	0.001
Vancomycin	0 (0)	7 (43.8)
Fidaxomicin	0 (0)	2 (12.5)
Diarrhoea duration after treatment initiation – no. (%):**
24 h	1 (4)	0 (0)	0.03
48 h	14 (56)	2 (12.5)
> 48 h	8 (32)	12 (75)
Missing data	2 (8)	2 (12.5)
Hospital admission – no. (%)*	1 (4)	6 (37.5)	0.01
Probiotics prescription – no. (%)**	3 (12)	1 (6.2)	0.54
Discontinuation of causal antibiotic – no. (%)**	4 (16)	2 (12.5)	0.75
Severity risk factors – no. (%)*	9 (36)	11 (68.8)	0.02
Cooperation with the hospital specialists – no (%)*	7 (28)	14 (87.5)	0.0003

*Univariate analyses according to Fisher’s exact test or Chi-square test** for categorised variables.