Clinical Edge

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Clostridium Difficile Infection in People with MDS

World J Clin Oncol; 2017 Oct 10; Shaht, et al

Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) do not appear to play a role in the development of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia, according to a study involving 223 individuals. Participants—all of whom had either MDS or AML—were hospitalized at a single center over a ~2-year period ending in 2013. Investigators compared those with and without CDI to determine predictors of the disease. Among the results:

  • 15% developed CDI.
  • Albumin at time of hospitalization, prior diagnosis of CDI, receipt of cytarabine-based chemotherapy, and total days of hospitalization were significantly linked with CDI.
  • Receipt of DNA HMA-based chemotherapy, gender, proton-pump inhibitor use, and receipt of antibiotics were not linked with such.

Citation:

Shah K, Curtin B, Chu C, Hwang D, Flasar M, von Rosenvinge E. Characteristics of Clostridium difficile infection in patients hospitalized with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukemia. World J Clin Oncol. 2017;8(5):398-404. doi:10.5306/wjco.v8.i5.398.