There is a new study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that evaluates the safety and efficacy of a nontoxigenic C. difficile strain M3 (VP20621; NTCD-M3) in preventing recurrent CDI in those patients initially treated with metronidazole and/or oral vancomycin. In the 4 arms of the phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, they compared patients given oral liquid formulation of NTCD-M3, 10^4 spores/day for 7 days (n=43), 10^7 spores/day for 7 days (n=44), or 10^7 spores/day for 14 days (n=42), or placebo for 14 days (n=44).
Recurrent CDI occurred in 13/43 (30%) of placebo patients and only 14/125 (11%) of patients treated with NTCD-M3 patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.69; P=0.006). Fecal colonization with the NTCD-M3 strain was reported in 69% of treated patients and was associated with lower recurrence: 2/86 (2%) recurrence if colonized vs. 12/39 (31%) recurrence in treated but uncolonized patients (OR, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.05). Side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and serious side effects were actually higher in the placebo groups. If this smaller study's findings are confirmed in larger trials, we may just have a new treatment for the prevention of recurrent CDI. Very cool.
Check out the video interview with lead author Dr. Dale Gerding, another related video and the JAMA Associate Editor's podcast covering this article and other important studies.
Eli N. Perencevich, MD, ACP Member, is an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist in Iowa City, Iowa, who studies methods to halt the spread of resistant bacteria in our hospitals (including novel ways to get everyone to wash their hands). This post originally appeared at the blog Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention.
