Lymphopenia as a novel marker of Clostridium difficile infection recurrence.

BACKGROUND:

Treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is often limited by recurrence in 25% of cases. The objective of this study was to determine risk factors of CDI recurrence during a provincial endemic.

METHODS:

Data was prospectively collected for 1 year in a Montréal hospital. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 18 years; admission for ≥ 72 h; CDI diagnosis during current admission; no CDI diagnosis in the previous 3 months.

RESULTS:

A total of 121 patients were included, of which 42% were female. Mean age was 77 years, with a median Charlson comorbidity index of 5. Forty patients (33%) had recurrent disease within 2 months of initial CDI treatment. There were 20 deaths (17%) within the 2-month follow-up period. Higher risk of CDI recurrence was independently associated with older age (HR=2.26 for each decade), female gender (HR=1.56), and lymphopenia at completion of CDI treatment (HR=2.18), while a positive C. difficile antitoxin serology was protective (HR=0.17). CDI recurrence was not associated with either lymphopenia at time of diagnosis, underlying comorbidities, severity or treatment of the initial CDI episode, or re-exposure to antibiotics during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION:

Lymphopenia at the end of CDI treatment appears to be a strong marker for CDI recurrence. This available and inexpensive test may identify patients who are at higher risk of CDI recurrence.