The interplay of SARS-CoV-2 and Clostridioides difficile infection

Future Microbiol. 2021 Apr:16:439-443. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0275. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we practice medicine and lead our lives. In addition to pulmonary symptoms; COVID-19 as a syndrome has multisystemic involvement including frequent gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. Due to microbiome alterations with COVID-19 and frequent antibiotic exposure, COVID-19 can be complicated by Clostridioides difficile infection. Co-infection with these two can be associated with a high risk of complications. Infection control measures in hospitals is enhanced due to the COVID-19 pandemic which in turn appears to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections such as C. difficile infection. Another implication of COVID-19 and its potential transmissibility by stool is microbiome-based therapies. Potential stool donors should be screened COVID-19 symptoms and be tested for COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Clostridioides difficile; colitis; diarrhea; infection; pandemic.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / transmission
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
  • Clostridium Infections* / diagnosis
  • Clostridium Infections* / epidemiology
  • Clostridium Infections* / therapy
  • Coinfection* / diagnosis
  • Coinfection* / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control*
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
  • Feces* / microbiology
  • Feces* / virology
  • Humans
  • Infection Control
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification