PREVALENCE OF CLOSTRIDIUM-DIFFICILE IN VIH INFECTED PATIENTS

Clostridium difficile cytotoxin was detected by tissue culture assay in stools of 1081 subjects; 415 of them were HIV-infected. The detection was positive in specimens from 14.1 % of all patients, 17.3 % of HIV-infected patients and 21.4 % of 70 individuals with clinical AIDS. All patients had received antimicrobial agents. AIDS does not appear to be an increased risk factor of C. difficile diarrhea as antimicrobial chemotherapy and hospitalization area. Moreover, incidence of C. difficile-associated diarrhea in immune compromised patients suggest a necessary prevention.