[Prediction of the course of antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile based on clinical and laboratory characteristics of the disease].

Background: The most severe complications of antibiotic use are clostridial infection (CDI) and pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). There is a need for further study of these conditions and identification of their triggers.

Aim: To identify risk factors for severe forms of antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile.

Materials and methods: A clinical and laboratory examination of 440 patients with CDI who were treated at Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital was conducted. CDI was confirmed by detection of toxins A and B of C. difficile in feces using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatography. Metronidazole (2 g/day, in patients without comorbid pathology) and vancomycin (0.5-2 g/day) were used as a starting drug for up to 14 days. Statistical processing of the obtained data was performed using the Statistica for Windows, v.10 (StatSoft, USA) program.

Results: CDI was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 202 (45.91%) patients, immunochromatography - in 149 (33.86%), endoscopically - in 203 (46.14%). CDI was most frequently recorded in 2 age groups of patients: 18-30 years old - in 137 (31.14%); over 60 years old - in 205 (46.59%). CDI was characterized by a combination of colitic and intoxication syndromes. In 43 (9.77%) patients the disease resulted in death. The diagnosis of PMС was established in 61 (13.86%) people. The risks of developing PMC when prescribing antibacterial drugs decreased in the following order: fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, macrolides, penicillins, nitrofurans and chloramphenicol. Probiotic drugs reduced the risk of developing PMC (relative risk 0.5 [0.3; 0.7]; p=0.002).

Conclusion: PMC was characterized by a combination of diarrhea, intoxication and abdominal pain. The formation of PMC was preceded by courses of antibacterial drugs of the fluoroquinolone and cephalosporin groups, eradication therapy for Helicobacter infection, the use of high doses of glucocorticosteroids, as well as intestinal superinfection in patients with previous episodes of CDI.