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Whole-genome sequencing was used to determine whether the reductions in recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection observed with fidaxomicin in pivotal phase 3 trials occurred by preventing relapse of the same infection, by preventing reinfection with a new strain, or by preventing both outcomes. Paired isolates of C. difficile were available from 93 of 199 participants with recurrences (28 were treated with fidaxomicin, and 65 were treated with vancomycin). Given C. difficile evolutionary rates, paired samples ≤2 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) apart were considered relapses, paired samples >10 SNVs apart were considered reinfection, and those 3-10 SNVs apart (or without whole-genome sequences) were considered indeterminate in a competing risks survival analysis. Fidaxomicin reduced the risk of both relapse (competing risks hazard ratio [HR], 0.40 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .25-.66]; P = .0003) and reinfection (competing risks HR, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.11-1.01]; P = .05).

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/infdis/jit598

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Infect Dis

Publication Date

01/05/2014

Volume

209

Pages

1446 - 1451

Keywords

Clostridium difficile, fidaxomicin, recurrence, whole genome sequencing, Aminoglycosides, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Clostridium Infections, Clostridium difficile, DNA, Bacterial, Double-Blind Method, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Fidaxomicin, Genome, Bacterial, Humans, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Secondary Prevention, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Vancomycin