Management of Clostridioides difficile Infection: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Perspectives.

Clostridioides difficile infection is the most common healthcare-associated infection in the United States, with potential life-threatening complications and a significant impact on the costs of care. Antibiotic stewardship as well as discontinuation of chronic acid suppressive therapy are key for its prevention and treatment. Effective infection management requires appropriate interpretation of diagnostic tests, as well as the use of vancomycin and fidaxomicin as first-line treatment.

Comparative Effectiveness of Virtual Versus In-person Visits for Abdominal Pain During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background And Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of telemedicine in improving healthcare access and reducing costs. This study aimed to assess order compliance in the virtual versus in-person setting for the initial evaluation of abdominal pain (AP) prior to and during the pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation of virtual and in-person outpatient gastroenterology visits for AP were identified through natural language processing from January 2019 through September 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic main campus and regional hospitals in Ohio.

Association of Bariatric Surgery with Risk of Incident Obesity-Associated Malignancies: a Multi-center Population-Based Study.

Introduction: Obesity has a known association with certain types of malignancy, and we aimed to determine whether bariatric surgery has a protective effect against de novo obesity-associated cancer development in adult patients.

Methods: We performed a multi-center retrospective cohort studying utilizing TriNetX national database. Patients were identified utilizing ICD-10-CM coding, and propensity score matching was performed.

Video Consent for Colonoscopy Improves Knowledge Retention and Patient Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background And Aim: Informed consent for endoscopy is variable across institutions and remains understudied in gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study aims to standardize informed consent for screening and diagnostic colonoscopies with a supplemental video tool that includes the key components of informed consent.

Methods: A video tool was developed that incorporated the key components of informed consent for colonoscopy.

An Unusual Case of a Pharyngeal Fistula to the Cervical Spine Causing Osteomyelitis.

Significance Statement: Pharyngeal fistulas to the cervical spine resulting in vertebral osteomyelitis are a rare, yet clinically important, complication of total laryngectomy performed in conjunction with chemoradiotherapy or radiation therapy. This complication is likely underdiagnosed and can have a high mortality rate. It is very important that clinicians are aware of this complication as early diagnosis and management may improve patient outcomes.

CMV coinfection in treatment refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor colitis.

As immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used, clinicians are more frequently encountering the side effects of these therapies. ICIs have been implicated in numerous adverse effects against healthy tissues. We present a case of a patient who developed treatment refractory checkpoint inhibitor colitis.