Clostridium difficile infection in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Background & Aims: There has been an increase in the incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in the U.S. The importance of C difficile infection in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is unknown. This study was designed to determine risk of acquiring C difficile infection in pouch disorders.

Methods: Consecutive ulcerative colitis patients (n = 115) with IPAA undergoing pouch endoscopy were enrolled from May 2005-March 2006. Fecal specimens of pouch aspirate were collected during pouch endoscopy and analyzed for C difficile toxin A and B by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nineteen clinical, endoscopic, and histologic variables were assessed with stepwise selection methods. Two multivariate logistic regression models were constructed.

Results: Twenty-one patients (18.3%) were positive for C difficile infection. Adjusting for other factors in the model, men were 5.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.38-20.46) times more likely to have C difficile infection than women. Compared with patients with pancolitis, those with preoperative left-sided colitis were 8.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.25-56.4) times more likely to have C difficile infection. Six of 6 patients with C difficile infection (3 with refractory pouchitis, 2 with Crohn's disease, and 1 with irritable pouch syndrome) with repeat clinical, endoscopic, and laboratory evaluation after anti-C difficile therapy experienced clinical remission and disappearance of C difficile toxin from stools, with 4 showing decreased mucosal inflammation.

Conclusions: C difficile infection involving IPAA is common, characteristically occurring with or without previous receipt of antibiotics. Treatment of C difficile infection in patients with IPAA might improve the clinical outcome.