Clostridium difficile and Entamoeba histolytica infections in patients with colitis in the Philippines.

Amoebiasis is a common cause of non-specific colitis in the Philippines. The prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection with colitis is unknown. Empiric use of metronidazole for colitis treatment is widely practiced. We investigated the association of C. difficile or Entamoeba histolytica infection with endoscopically/histopathologically proven colitis among adults in the Philippines. Two hundred and ten patients undergoing colonoscopy were enrolled. Demographic and clinical data were reviewed. Stool specimens were assayed for C. difficile and E. histolytica by ELISA. Microscopy was performed. The mean age of the patients was 53 y (range: 19-88 y) and 53% were male. Colitis was diagnosed in 39 of 205 patients. Clostridium difficile, E. histolytica and parasites were seen in 17 (43.6%), 10 (25.6%) and 11 (28.2%), respectively, of patients with colitis compared with 36 (21.7%; p=0.005), 13 (7.8%; p=0.001) and 56 (33.7%; p=0.51), respectively, of those without colitis. Diarrhoea and antibiotic intake history were significantly more common among patients with colitis than those without (43.6% and 20.5% vs 18.1% and 5.4%; p=0.001 and p=0.006, respectively). The mean duration of diarrhoea was 2.53 d shorter among patients with colitis. The most frequent antibiotics taken were fluoroquinolones and metronidazole (50% and 40% of antibiotic courses, respectively, in patients with colitis). This study suggests that C. difficile infection is common and might be overlooked in settings where amoebiasis and intestinal parasitism are endemic.

Early ERCP in acute gallstone pancreatitis without cholangitis: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Early ERCP was reported to result in recovery from acute gallstone pancreatitis. To date, several RCTs comparing it to conservative treatment have yielded different results. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect of early ERCP on the morbidity and mortality of acute gallstone pancreatitis without cholangitis. METHODS: We searched the following databases up to January 11(th), 2008: the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Australasian Medical Index, Latin American Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, and the Health Research and Development Information Network. References were scrutinized. Authors were contacted. There were no restrictions regarding language, publication date or publication status. RESULTS: Seven RCTs were retrieved, but only two RCTs involving 177 treated patients and 163 control patients were included. A meta-analysis on morbidity was inconclusive (RR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.74-1.22). Meta-analysis on mortality only showed a trend in favor of conservative management (RR=1.92, 95% CI: 0.86-4.32) for both mild and severe pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a trend towards more mortality from early ERCP with or without sphincterotomy in the setting of acute gallstone pancreatitis without cholangitis. However, more studies are needed. In the meantime, early ERCP should not be carried out unless there is at least a slight suspicion of cholangitis or persistent ampullary obstruction.

Ursodeoxycholic acid in the prevention of gallstone formation after bariatric surgery: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Rapid weight loss increases risk for gallstone formation. Prophylactic cholecystectomy is difficult. Several small trials have shown that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may prevent gallstone formation after bariatric surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of UDCA in the prevention of gallstone formation after bariatric surgery. METHODS: Electronic databases, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Australasian Medical Index, LILACS, and HERDIN, were searched. Reference lists of trials selected by the above electronic searching were also searched. Authors of the retrieved trials and pharmaceutical companies were also contacted for other trials, published and unpublished. A meta-analysis of all randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective trials comparing UDCA and placebo was performed. RESULTS: Five RCTs including 521 patients were assessed. Random effects meta-analysis showed a significant reduction of gallstone formation (RR 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.83), with 8.8% of those taking UDCA developing gallstones compared to 27.7% for placebo. Although this meta-analysis is heterogeneous with I(2) of 61.9%, the directions of the effect are all consistently in favor of UDCA (p=0.01). A meta-analysis on the adverse effects could not be performed because the studies did not report them in a way to make the analysis possible. CONCLUSIONS: UDCA can prevent gallstone formation after bariatric surgery.

Laboratory diagnosis and susceptibility profile of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori diagnosis and susceptibility profile directs the applicability of recommended treatment regimens in our setting. To our knowledge, there is no published data on the culture and local susceptibility pattern of Helicobacter pylori in the Philippines. METHODS: 52 dyspeptic adult patients undergoing endoscopy from the Outpatient Gastroenterology clinic of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital underwent multiple gastric biopsy and specimens were submitted for gram stain, culture, antimicrobial sensitivity testing, rapid urease test and histology. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Epsilometer testing (Etest) method against metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline. RESULTS: Sixty percent (60%) of the study population was positive for H. pylori infection (mean age of 44 years +/- 13), 70% were males. H. pylori culture showed a sensitivity of 45% (95% CI [29.5-62.1]), specificity of 98% (95%CI [81.5-100%]), positive likelihood ratio of 19.93 (95% CI [1.254-317.04]) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.56 (95% CI [0.406-0.772]). All H. pylori strains isolated were sensitive to metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and tetracycline. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the antibiotic susceptibility patterns in our setting allows us to be more cautious in the choice of first-line agents. Information on antibiotic susceptibility profile plays an important role in empiric antibiotic treatment and management of refractive cases.