Clostridium difficile Infection in Patients with Cirrhosis on Rifaximin

Among 388 cirrhotic patients, 46 had Clostridium difficile infection, including 14 on chronic rifaximin therapy, 12 of these with rifaximin resistance.

Rifaximin has been used to treat encephalopathy in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and to treat refractory and recurrent cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Some reports suggest that CDI is uncommon in patients with hepatic cirrhosis on rifaximin, but this has not been well studied in this specific group of patients.

To examine this question, collaborators at a hospital in Madrid retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of cirrhotic patients between 2009 and 2014 and identified those who had an episode of diarrhea in which a stool sample was sent to the microbiology laboratory. All samples underwent toxigenic culture in selective C. difficile agar, and susceptibility to rifaximin was tested on positive stool samples.

Of 388 pat…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Clostridium difficile Infection in Patients with Cirrhosis on Rifaximin

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Reviewing Author