Association Between Response to Treatment of C. Diff Colitis and Anti-C.Diff Toxin Antibody
Summary
The purpose of this study is three fold: 1)To collect serum from patients with documented Clostridium difficile infection and test for the presence of antibody to C. difficile toxin at the start and at the end of therapy, and again if a relapse or recurrence occurs. 2)To collect stool samples for test of C. difficile toxin at similar time intervals. 3)To assay random serum samples from the VA lab in order to determine the rate of antibody to C. difficile toxin in our patient population.
Description
Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrheal disease associated with antibiotic therapy. This is a debilitating condition with substantial morbidity and mortality that may be around 2-3%. Current recommended therapy for this condition is metronidazole, given orally. Our observations suggest that about 10-20% of patients fail to respond to initial therapy with metronidazole, and 20% relapse after treatment. The reason why some persons are cured whereas others relapse is, at present, unknown. There is a suggestion in the medical literature that recurrent infection is associated with the failure to generate antibody to C. difficile toxin. It is also possible that those patients who become infected lack antibody, whereas others in the population tend to have such antibody. We propose to study our patients at VAMC Houston in order to relate occurrence and/or the failure to respond to therapy or the appearance of recurrent disease to the presence of anti-toxin antibody. We also propose to study sera obtained at random from VAMC patients in order to determine the prevalence of antibody in our patient population.
Study Design
Observational Model: Defined Population, Primary Purpose: Screening, Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional, Time Perspective: Prospective
Conditions
Clostridium Enterocolitis
Location
Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center
Houston
Texas
United States
77030
Status
Recruiting
Source
VA Medical Center, Houston
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00304408
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Clostridium Difficile
A common inhabitant of the colon flora in human infants and sometimes in adults. It produces a toxin that causes pseudomembranous enterocolitis (ENTEROCOLITIS, PSEUDOMEMBRANOUS) in patients receiving antibiotic therapy.
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
ENTEROCOLITIS with extensive ulceration (ULCER) and NECROSIS. It is observed primarily in LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANT.
Megacolon, Toxic
An acute form of MEGACOLON, severe pathological dilatation of the COLON. It is associated with clinical conditions such as ULCERATIVE COLITIS; CROHN DISEASE; AMEBIC DYSENTERY; or CLOSTRIDIUM ENTEROCOLITIS.
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous
An acute inflammation of the INTESTINAL MUCOSA that is characterized by the presence of pseudomembranes or plaques in the SMALL INTESTINE (pseudomembranous enteritis) and the LARGE INTESTINE (pseudomembranous colitis). It is commonly associated with antibiotic therapy and CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE colonization.
Clostridium Butyricum
Type species of the genus CLOSTRIDIUM, a gram-positive bacteria in the family Clostridiaceae. It is used as a source of PROBIOTICS.
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PubMed Articles
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