Differentiating Clostridium difficile Colitis from Clostridium difficile Colonization in Ulcerative Colitis: A Role for Procalcitonin.

ABSTRACT:

Background/aims

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) frequently complicates ulcerative colitis (UC) and can mimic disease flare. Differentiating UC flare from CDI remains a clinical challenge, particularly due to C. difficile colonization. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a serum biomarker for bacterial infections. We hypothesized that PCT would differentiate acute CDI from UC flare and C. difficile colonization.

Methods

A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted from 2013 to 2016. All UC patients with a stool sample for C. difficile testing were eligible. A total of 117 patients were enrolled, while 20 were excluded. Chart review was performed.

Results

Among 27 patients with CDI, median PCT was 60.7 (range 26-560.6) pg/mL, while among 90 patients without CDI, medi

SUBMITTER: Reinink AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5899687 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature