Management of difficult-to-treat Clostridioides difficile in a patient with chronic osteomyelitis

BMJ Case Rep. 2020 Mar 29;13(3):e233095. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2019-233095.

Abstract

A 61-year-old male patient being treated with intravenous antibiotics for left foot osteomyelitis presented to the hospital septic, with several days of worsening abdominal pain, bloating and watery bowel movements. Investigation revealed that the patient had severe, treatment-resistant Clostridioides difficile colitis. He was initially treated with oral vancomycin and intravenous metronidazole, which was switched to oral fidaxomicin. After no improvement in the patient's symptoms, he was treated with two faecal microbiota transplants. He was offered a third faecal microbiota transplant but declined. The patient was placed back on oral fidaxomicin and saw ultimate resolution of his symptoms. This case provides an example of a treatment pathway for refractory C. difficile infection.

Keywords: gastroenterology; hepatitis and other gastrointestinal infection; infection (gastroenterology); infectious diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clostridium Infections / therapy*
  • Colitis / microbiology*
  • Colitis / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation*
  • Fidaxomicin / therapeutic use
  • Foot / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteomyelitis / drug therapy*
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Metronidazole
  • Vancomycin
  • Fidaxomicin