Serum Cholesterol Levels at the Onset of Bloodstream Infection Have Prognostic Value

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the changes in serum cholesterol levels at the onset of bloodstream infection (BSI) and to determine whether serum cholesterol levels were associated with patients’ clinical backgrounds and the prognosis of BSI;Methods: A retrospective chart review was done to collect demographic information and the subjects’ medical history, invasive procedures, and medications;Patients and Methods: From April 2003 to March 2006, all patients aged ≥20 years with positive blood cultures in the University of Tokyo Hospital (a tertiary teaching hospital with 1200 beds) were enrolled;Results: Average cholesterol levels before the onset of BSI were 166.5 ± 46.5 mg/dL, and, at the onset of BSI, they decreased to 134.4 ± 45.0 mg/dL (p < 0.001). Thirty-day survivors had higher cholesterol levels both before and at the onset of BSI than non-survivors. Cholesterol levels at the onset of BSI were associated with the organisms of BSI. Patients with lower cholesterol levels tended to have higher 30-day mortality rates and longer medical treatment than patients with higher cholesterol levels (13% vs 3%, p = 0.12;24.3 days vs 18.4 days, p = 0.15);Conclusion: Cholesterol levels at the onset of BSI could be used as a prognostic marker in patients with BSI.

Incidence of <i>Clostridium difficile</i>-associated diarrhea in patients using proton pump inhibitors: A Japanese study

Objective: The incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has increased in many developed countries. In addition to previous use of antimicrobials, use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is thought to increase the incidence of CDAD. However, most previous studies that showed a positive relationship between PPI use and CDAD were conducted retrospectively in Western countries. We investigated whether the use of PPIs increases the incidence of CDAD in Japan. Methods: The study was carried out with all the patients admitted to the department of internal medicine of Teikyo University Hospital from April 2009 to June 2009. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. CDAD was defined as detection of CD toxin from stool samples in diarrheal patients. PPI users were defined as patients that were prescribed with PPI for more than 30 days at the detection of CD toxin. The results of Clostridium difficile (CD) toxin were collected until April 2011. Results: A total of 793 patients were included, and PPIs were prescribed to 489 patients (59.8%). The average age of PPI users was higher than that of PPI nonusers (68.9 vs. 63.1 years). Among the 489 PPI users, 19 patients developed CDAD, while 4 developed CDAD among the 304 PPI nonusers. The relative risk of PPI use on the incidence of CDAD was 3.20 in univariate analysis (95% confidence interval, 1.10 to 9.32, p = 0.04), although the hazard ratio in multivariate analysis was 1.23 (95% confidence interval, 0.35 to 3.83, p = 0.82). Conclusions: There was no association between CDAD occurrence and PPI use in patients in Japan.