CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS. THE EXPERIENCE OF AN INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL FROM NORTH-EASTERN ROMANIA

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in patients with other comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (DM can set special diagnosis and management problems. Material and methods: Retrospective study comparing two groups of consecutive patients (group 1: 71 cases with DM, group 2: 336 cases without DM) diagnosed with CDI in the Iasi Infectious Diseases Hospital from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017. Results: Mean age, the proportion of patients over 60 years, as well as the proportion of cases with community-acquired infections were significantly higher in group 1. Clinical manifestations were similar in both groups, except for the greater amplitude of fever in group 2. Group 1 patients had a slightly higher frequency of the severe forms of CDI and higher serum creatinine levels compared with group 2 patients. The rate of recurrent CDI did not significantly differ between the two groups, but the age of relapsing diabetic patients was higher. Lethality was not influenced by the presence of diabetes. Conclusions: Patients with CDI and type 2 DM were older, had more community-acquired infections, some clinical features of the disease compared to nondiabetic patients.