Tu1248 Screening for Enteric Infection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Contacting the IBD Helpline and Presenting With Disease Flares

Bacterial Intestinal Superinfections in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Beyond Clostridum difficile

“…When looking at those studies performed in the era of biological agents, this prevalence was reduced to 2.8% (ranging from 2% to 5%). [54][55][56][57] Beyond C. difficile, C. jejuni was the most frequent isolated enteropathogen in these studies, accounting for 71% of these superinfections.…”

“…Many of the studies assessing the incidence of these infections in IBD patients come from retrospective data in the setting of clinical practice in both outpatients and inpatients. [54][55][56][57] This is somehow reflected in the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guidelines in which it is merely stated that C. difficile should be tested at every flare in patients with colonic disease, and that cytomegalovirus should be ruled out in patients with acute steroid-resistant colitis. However, the guidelines do not make any clear statements about conventional stool culture.…”

“…In one of the abovementioned studies assessing the prevalence of enteric infections in patients with active IBD, the authors suggested an increased risk of hospitalizations in IBD patients with enteric infections as compared with those without. 54 Conversely, Johnson et al 57 recently reported the results of a British audit reviewing stool testing of IBD patients with diarrhea. Among 300 outpatients contacting IBD Helplines for advice and who completed stool testing, 6 had C. jejuni in stool cultures (2%), for only 1 (1%) among 96 inpatients admitted during the same period, suggesting that intestinal superinfections may even be more frequent among outpatients.…”