Interruption of recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea episodes by serial therapy with vancomycin and rifaximin.

Author(s): Johnson S, Schriever C, Galang M, Kelly CP, Gerding DN

Affiliation(s): Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA. sjohnson@lumc.edu

Publication date & source: 2007-03-15, Clin Infect Dis., 44(6):846-8. Epub 2007 Feb 2.

Publication type: Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Eight women who each experienced 4-8 episodes of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea were given a 2-week course of rifaximin therapy when they were asymptomatic, immediately after completing their last course of vancomycin therapy. Seven of the 8 patients experienced no further diarrhea recurrence. The patient who had a recurrence responded to a second course of rifaximin therapy, but rifaximin-resistant C. difficile was recovered after treatment. A controlled trial for treating recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea appears to be warranted.