Clostridium difficile infection is associated with worse long term outcome in patients with ulcerative colitis

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is becoming prevalent in general population as well as in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to investigate the long-term impact of CDI in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). UC inpatients or outpatients who had positive results for stool C. difficile toxins A and B between 2002 and 2007 were identified (N=45). The 45 patients were matched for age and gender to UC patients who were negative for C. difficile and had never been diagnosed with CDI (N=101). The primary Colectomy within 12months of C. difficile testing was the primary outcome patients with CDI and no-CDI. Forty-five patients were CDI positive and 101 were negative. Patients who were CDI positive had significantly more UC-related emergency room visits in the year following initial infection (37.8% vs. 4%, p