Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in patients with HIV positivity and AIDS: a prospective controlled study.

Abstract

To compare the clinical manifestations and therapeutic responses of Clostridium difficile infection in HIV-infected and noninfected individuals. Patients were identified for this study if they had C. difficile toxin in the stool. The patients were then followed prospectively by the investigators. All patients were treated with a standard regimen, and clinical and laboratory findings were recorded. Persistence and resolution or recurrence of symptoms and complications were recorded. A total of 87 patients were studied, of which 12 were HIV positive, 20 had AIDS, and 55 had no known HIV infection. The AIDS group was younger and had a lower total leukocyte count than the controls. There were no statistically significant differences in temperature, leukocytosis, clinical symptoms, therapeutic response, or recurrence or persistent of symptoms. Despite the immunosuppression of HIV infection, C. difficile infection behaves no differently in HIV/AIDS patients than it does in controls.