2375. Association Between Clostridium difficile Colonization and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile (CD) is a frequent cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea. Despite no clear evidence has linked CD colonization (CDC) or CD infection (CDI) with inflammatory bowel disease activity (IBDA), data in our setting has suggested the contrary. METHODS: Prospective cohort study in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico City. Patients aged ≥18 years with IBD in clinical remission were included between April 2017 and April 2019. Demographic, clinical and laboratory variables, as well as three fecal samples, were collected at inclusion and during follow-up. CDC was defined as a positive GDH test without diarrhea. CDI was defined as diarrhea (as per IDSA criteria) plus positive GDH and PCR tests. IBDA was defined as bloody diarrhea plus a negative GDH test. The primary outcome was the association between CDC and IBDA. Secondary outcomes were incidence rates of CDC and CDI, including risk factors associated with CDC. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed considering P < 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of 250 IBD patients, 101 cases met inclusion criteria and 85 completed follow-up (median = 420 days, IQR = 243–511 days). Twenty-three cases (27%) had IBDA during follow-up, eight cases had new CDC (incidence of 8.2/100 person-years), and one case developed CDI (incidence of 1.0/100 person-years). Figure 1 shows the cumulative percentage of cases without CDC during follow-up. In univariate analysis, the following were associated with CDC: decreasing age, decreasing age when IBD was diagnosed, residence in Mexico City or the State of Mexico, and hospitalization during follow-up. In Cox regression analysis, a decreasing age when IBD was diagnosed (HR = 0.92, CI95% = 0.87–0.98, p = 0.009) and residence in the State of Mexico (HR = 5.88, CI 95% = 1.21–28.60, p = 0.028) remained significantly associated with CDC. However, we did not find a statistically significant association between new CDC events and IBDA during a median follow-up period extending beyond 1 year. CONCLUSION: We found no association between CDC and IBDA. Risk factors associated with CDC were residence in the State of Mexico and a decreasing age when IBD was diagnosed. [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.