Impacts of Corticosteroid Therapy at Acute Stage of Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile Infections

Introduction: The influence of corticosteroid therapy before or after the onset of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) on the clinical outcomes of adults with hospital-onset CDIs was investigated. Materials and Methods: A clinical study was conducted on the medical wards of a teaching hospital between January 2013 and April 2020. Adults (aged ≥ 20 years) with hospital-onset CDIs (ie, symptom onset at least 48 hours after hospitalization) were included. “Corticosteroid therapy during acute CDIs” was defined as the receipt of a corticosteroid at the prednisolone equivalent (PE) dose of ≥10 mg for at least 48 hours within one week after the CDI diagnosis. “Prior corticosteroid exposure” was defined as the receipt of a corticosteroid at the PE dose of ≥5 mg PE for at least 48 hours within one month before the CDI diagnosis. Results: Of the 243 adults with hospital-onset CDIs, patients (44, 18.1%) who received corticosteroid therapy during acute CDIs were more likely to have prior corticosteroid exposure (86.4% vs 11.9%, P <0.001) and CDI episodes in intensive care units (31.8% vs 10.8%, P =0.001). Of note, a crucial association between corticosteroid therapy during acute CDIs and CDI recurrence was evidenced (13.6% vs 1.5%, P =0.002). Prior corticosteroid exposure was not associated with favorable CDI outcomes in terms of successful treatment (78.3% vs 74.9%, P =0.89), in-hospital crude mortality (17.4% vs 24.0%, P =0.61), or CDI recurrence (4.3% vs 5.3%, P = 1.00). However, for 177 patients without prior corticosteroid exposure, corticosteroid therapy during acute CDIs was linked to a higher proportion of CDI recurrence (33.3% vs 5.3%, P =0.046). Conclusion: Corticosteroid therapy during acute CDIs might impact the recurrence of CDIs, particularly in those with a lack of prior corticosteroid exposure.