Acute diarrhea in the hospitalized immunocompromised patient: what is new on diagnostic and treatment?

Purpose of review: This article aims to provide an intuitive framework for diagnosing and managing healthcare-associated diarrhea (HCAD) in the immunocompromised (IC) host.

Recent findings: Our understanding of diarrhea in hospitalized IC patients has significantly evolved. However, the challenge lies in distinguishing between these patients' numerous causes of diarrhea. The incorporation of gastrointestinal (GI) multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panels has led to a paradigm shift in our approach to diarrhea. However, using these panels judiciously is of utmost importance, as their misuse can lead to over-testing, overtreatment, and increased hospital costs. We propose a stepwise diagnostic algorithm that ensures diagnostic stewardship, optimal patient care, and resource utilization.

Summary: Diarrhea is a common complication in hospitalized IC patients and is associated with significant morbidity and rare mortality. The advent of new diagnostics, such as GI multiplex PCR panels, holds promise in facilitating the detection of recognized pathogens and may allow for improved outcomes using pathogen-targeted therapy.