CLOSTRIDIUM-DIFFICILE-ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA IN PATIENTS WITH HIV POSITIVITY AND AIDS - A PROSPECTIVE CONTROLLED-STUDY

Objective: To compare the clinical manifestations and therapeutic resp onses of Clostridium difficile infection in HIV-infected and noninfect ed individuals. Methods: Patients were identified for this study if th ey had C. difficile toxin in the stool. The patients were then followe d 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 complication s were recorded. Results: A total of 87 patients were studied, of whic h 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 tha n the controls. There were no statistically significant differences in temperature, leukocytosis, clinical symptoms, therapeutic response, o r recurrence or persistent of symptoms. Conclusions: Despite the immun osuppression of HIV infection, C. difficile infection behaves no diffe rently in HIV/AIDS patients than it does in controls.