Proton pump inhibitors linked to increased cases of clostridium difficile
March 07, 2012 | by Ralph Zanfardino, MPAS, BSJ, PA-C
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), used to decrease acid production in many gastrointestinal disorders, may increase risk of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a bacterium that causes diarrhea.
The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, was based on 1166 patients in the New England Veterans Healthcare System from October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2008. 527 (45.2%) of them received PPIs by mouth within 14 days of diagnosis of CDI and 639 (54.8%) did not. Recurrent CDI was more common in those who took PPIs than in those who did not (25.2% vs 18.5%). Recurrence were highest among those older than 80 years and those taking antibiotics for other bacteria. Proton pump inhibitor use during incident CDI treatment was associated with a 42% increased risk of recurrence.
