Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of the full study cohort.
| Variables | Control (n = 63) | Bowel rest (n = 28) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 84.0 (78–88) | 82.5 (76–91) | 0.884 |
| Males | 35 (55.6) | 8 (28.6) | 0.023 |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Diabetes | 7 (11.1) | 7 (25.0) | 0.117 |
| Malignancy | 20 (31.7) | 5 (17.9) | 0.210 |
| IBD | 1 (1.6) | 2 (7.1) | 0.223 |
| Initial treatment for CDI | |||
| Metronidazole | 51 (81.0) | 23 (82.1) | 1.000 |
| Vancomycin | 12 (19.0) | 5 (17.9) | 1.000 |
| Antibiotic use | |||
| Pre-treatment | 55 (87.3) | 23 (82.1) | 0.529 |
| Post-treatment | 26 (41.3) | 14 (50.0) | 0.497 |
| Medications | |||
| PPI | 32 (50.8) | 15 (53.6) | 0.824 |
| H2RA | 6 (9.5) | 2 (7.1) | 1.000 |
| Probiotics | 44 (69.8) | 18 (64.3) | 0.632 |
| Immunosuppressants | 5 (7.9) | 2 (7.1) | 1.000 |
| Chemotherapy | 5 (7.9) | 1 (3.6) | 0.662 |
| Vasopressor | 4 (6.3) | 1 (3.6) | 1.000 |
| Tube feeding | 9 (14.3) | 5 (17.9) | 0.755 |
| Surgery | 13 (20.6) | 5 (17.9) | 1.000 |
| ICU stay | 4 (6.3) | 3 (10.7) | 0.672 |
| Laboratory data | |||
| Albumin | 2.30 (2.00–2.70) | 2.40 (2.08–2.82) | 0.475 |
| Creatinine | 0.81 (0.55–1.07) | 0.72 (0.63–1.24) | 0.692 |
| WBC | 8200 (5900–12,800) | 10,500 (6700–14,675) | 0.387 |
Data are median (interquartile range) or number (%).
IBD inflammatory bowel disease, CDI Clostridioides difficile infection, PPI proton pump inhibitor, H2RA histamine H2-receptor antagonist, ICU intensive care unit, WBC white blood cell count.