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

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sahil Khanna, Mayo Clinic; Colleen Kraft, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-04-13
• Publisher: Future Medicine Ltd.
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 Future Science Group.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.2217/fmb-2020-0275
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Future Microbiology
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 439
• End Page: 443
• Grant/Funding Information: None declared
• Keywords: Microbiology; infection; colitis; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; COVID-19; diarrhea; pandemic; Clostridioides difficile; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Pathology; Biology, Microbiology; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

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.