Our data suggest that patients presenting with a UC flare who are infected with C. difficile have worse long-term clinical outcomes than those that are C. difficile-negative. C. difficile testing should be performed for all patients presenting with UC flare. Further studies are warranted to elucidate how infection can alter the natural history of UC.

Background COVID‐19 frequently presents with acute gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, but it is unclear how common these symptoms are after recovery. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of GI symptoms after COVID‐19. Methods The medical records of patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 between March 1 and June 30, 2020, were reviewed for the presence of GI symptoms at primary care follow‐up 1 to 6 months later. The prevalence of new GI symptoms was estimated, and risk factors were assessed. Additionally, an anonymous survey was used to determine the prevalence of new GI symptoms among online support groups for COVID‐19 survivors. Key Results Among 147 patients without pre‐existing GI conditions, the most common GI symptoms at the time of hospitalization for COVID‐19 were diarrhea (23%), nausea/vomiting (21%), and abdominal pain (6.1%), and at a median follow‐up time of 106 days, the most common GI symptoms were abdominal pain (7.5%), constipation (6.8%), diarrhea (4.1%), and vomiting (4.1%), with 16% reporting at least one GI symptom at follow‐up (95% confidence interval 11 to 23%). Among 285 respondents to an online survey for self‐identified COVID‐19 survivors without pre‐existing GI symptoms, 113 (40%) reported new GI symptoms after COVID‐19 (95% CI 33.9 to 45.6%). Conclusion and inferences At a median of 106 days after discharge following hospitalization for COVID‐19, 16% of unselected patients reported new GI symptoms at follow‐up. 40% of patients from COVID survivor groups reported new GI symptoms. The ongoing GI effects of COVID‐19 after recovery require further study.

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