Oral Vancomycin for Preventing Clostridium Difficile Recurrence
Oral Vancomycin for Preventing Clostridium Difficile Recurrence
This study evaluates the role of oral vancomycin in the prevention of recurrent Clostridium
 difficile for hospitalized patients receiving systemic antibiotic therapy. Half of
 participants will receive oral vancomycin daily, while the other half will receive a placebo.
Clostridium difficile colitis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among
 hospitalized patients. Following the first episode, up to 15% of people experience recurrent
 disease. A major risk factor for recurrent disease is exposure to systemic antibiotics.

 Oral vancomycin given four times daily is one of the treatments for Clostridium difficile
 infection; it is not known if giving oral vancomycin at a lower dose such as once daily may
 help prevent recurrences. Oral vancomycin may be most helpful in preventing recurrences when
 given to patients at greatest risk of recurrent disease, such as when they are receiving
 systemic antibiotics.

 To evaluate this, the investigators propose comparing the rates of recurrent Clostridium
 difficile infection in patients who receive oral vancomycin with systemic antibiotics to when
 patients take systemic antibiotics alone.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 18 years and older

 -  Any history of Clostridium difficile infection based on a positive Clostridium
 difficile stool test performed at a lab affiliated with Rochester Regional Health
 System or patient report

 -  A new in-patient admission, with an antibiotic treatment plan for greater than 48
 hours

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Documented allergy and/or adverse drug reaction to vancomycin

 -  Pregnant

 -  Patients who are admitted with a current episode of Clostridium difficile infection

 -  Patients with total colectomy