Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website https://www.jocmr.org

Letter to the Editor

Volume 13, Number 12, December 2021, pages 572-574


Clostridiodes difficile Treatment Guided by Polymerase Chain Reaction Stool Testing Does not Alter Outcomes for Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Figure

Figure 1.
Figure 1. Escalation of IBD therapy. PCR: polymerase chain reaction; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease.

Table

Table 1. Patient Demographics and Outcomes
 
DemographicsPCR-positivePCR-negativeP-value
*Continuous factors (age and IBD duration) compared using the paired t-test. **Categorical factors (IBD therapy escalation, addition/change in biologic) compared using McNemar’s test. No comparison carried out for ulcerative colitis, as there were no discordant pairs. PCR: polymerase chain reaction; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; SD: standard deviation.
Total cases4646
Age (years)< 0.0021*
  Mean (SD)45.8 (20.8)43.8 (19.8)
  Range20 - 9218 - 85
IBD duration in years< 0.7451*
  Mean (SD)7.9 (5.9)7.5 (7.1)
  Range0 - 26.00.1 - 37.0
Ulcerative colitis, N (%)28 (60.9)28 (60.9)
Total IBD therapy escalation at 1 year, N (%)30 (65.2)26 (56.5)< 0.3458**
Addition of biologic therapy or change of biologic therapy at 1 year, N (%)18 (39.1)12 (26.1)0.1088**