Guidelines for the management of Clostridioides difficile infection were published in June 2021 by the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) in Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. [1]
Evaluation
When Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is suspected, perform a disease-specific history emphasizing risk factors, symptoms, comorbidities, and signs of severe or fulminant disease.
Evaluate patients to determine severity of CDI and presence of peritonitis or multisystem organ failure.
Diagnosis of CDI should include two-step laboratory stool testing to increase accuracy.
Routine endoscopic evaluation to diagnose or determine the extent of CDI is not recommended.
Management
Oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin is first-line treatment for an initial CDI.
Metronidazole alone is no longer considered appropriate first-line treatment for CDI.
Surgery
Reserve surgery for C difficile colitis for patients with colonic perforation or severe colitis who do not improve with medical therapy.
Subtotal colectomy with end ileostomy is recommended for severe-complicated or fulminant C difficile colitis.
A diverting loop ileostomy with antegrade colonic lavage may be an alternative to subtotal colectomy for the treatment of severe-complicated or fulminant CDI.
Recurrent and Refractory CDI
A prolonged course of vancomycin, adding bezlotoxumab or using fidaxomicin, is an acceptable therapy for recurrent or refractory CDI in stable patients.
Patients with recurrent or refractory CDI should be considered for fecal bacteriotherapy if conventional measures have failed.
For more information, go to Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile Colitis.
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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Clostridioides difficile Infection Clinical Practice Guidelines (ASCRS, 2021) - Medscape - Aug 10, 2021.
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