Prevalence of diverticulosis in recurrent Clostridium difficile infection

AIM: To re-evaluate the theory that colonic diverticulosis is associated with relapse of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) in light of data suggesting increasing rates of CDAD infection and relapse.METHODS: Charts were reviewed for patients with recurrent CDAD who had also had a prior colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. An age and gender matched control group was used to compare the prevalence of diverticulosis.RESULTS: Twenty-two patients met the study criteria, and the prevalence of diverticulosis in patients with CDAD relapse was 23% compared to 32% in age and sex matched controls (P = 0.44). A significant proportion of patients with CDAD relapse had co-morbidities associated with immune suppression.CONCLUSION: Diverticulosis does not appear to be associated with CDAD relapse.