Lipp MJ, Pagovich OE, Rabin D, Min AD, Bernstein BB. Prevalence of diverticulosis in recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(3): 345-347 [PMID: 20082480 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i3.345]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Michael J Lipp, MD, Division of Digestive Diseases, Beth Israel Medical Center, 16th Street at 1st Avenue, 17-Baird Hall, New York, NY 10003, United States. mlipp@chpnet.org
Article-Type of This Article
Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2010; 16(3): 345-347 Published online Jan 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i3.345
Prevalence of diverticulosis in recurrent Clostridium difficile infection
Michael J Lipp, Odelya E Pagovich, David Rabin, Albert D Min, Brett B Bernstein
Michael J Lipp, Albert D Min, Brett B Bernstein, Division of Digestive Diseases, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, United States
Odelya E Pagovich, David Rabin, Division of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, United States
Author contributions: Lipp MJ designed the study; Lipp MJ and Pagovich OE performed the chart evaluations and data analysis; Lipp MJ and Rabin D wrote the manuscript; Min AD and Bernstein BB were involved with editing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Michael J Lipp, MD, Division of Digestive Diseases, Beth Israel Medical Center, 16th Street at 1st Avenue, 17-Baird Hall, New York, NY 10003, United States. mlipp@chpnet.org
Telephone: +1-212-4204183 Fax: +1-646-3493596
Received: September 25, 2009 Revised: October 26, 2009 Accepted: November 1, 2009 Published online: January 21, 2010
Abstract
AIM: To re-evaluate the theory that colonic diverticulosis is associated with relapse of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) in light of data suggesting increasing rates of CDAD infection and relapse.
METHODS: Charts were reviewed for patients with recurrent CDAD who had also had a prior colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. An age and gender matched control group was used to compare the prevalence of diverticulosis.
RESULTS: Twenty-two patients met the study criteria, and the prevalence of diverticulosis in patients with CDAD relapse was 23% compared to 32% in age and sex matched controls (P = 0.44). A significant proportion of patients with CDAD relapse had co-morbidities associated with immune suppression.
CONCLUSION: Diverticulosis does not appear to be associated with CDAD relapse.
