Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile and Other Gastrointestinal Pathogens in Patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in patients with COVID-19, but prevalence of co-infection with enteric pathogens is unknown. AIMS: This study assessed the prevalence of enteric infections among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We evaluated 4973 hospitalized patients ≥ 18 years of age tested for COVID-19 from March 11 through April 28, 2020, at two academic hospitals. The primary exposure was a positive COVID-19 test. The primary outcome was detection of a gastrointestinal pathogen by PCR stool testing. RESULTS: Among 4973 hospitalized individuals, 311 were tested for gastrointestinal infections (204 COVID-19 positive, 107 COVID-19 negative). Patients with COVID-19 were less likely to test positive compared to patients without COVID-19 (10% vs 22%, p < 0.01). This trend was driven by lower rates of non-C.difficile infections (11% vs 22% in COVID-19 positive vs. negative, respectively, p = 0.04), but not C. difficile infection (5.1% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.33). On multivariable analysis, infection with COVID-19 remained significantly associated with lower odds of concurrent GI infection (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.24-0.97), again driven by reduced non-C.difficile infection. Testing for both C.difficile and non-C.difficile enteric infection decreased dramatically during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Pathogens aside from C.difficile do not appear to be a significant contributor to diarrhea in COVID-19 positive patients.

Numbers and Features of Patients With a Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Without Duodenal Biopsy, Based on a National Survey.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: According to guidelines, individuals with symptoms of celiac disease should undergo duodenal biopsy analysis to establish a diagnosis, but little is known about physician adherence to these guidelines. We used a patient-powered research network (PPRN) to compare demographics, diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment between groups of patients with celiac disease diagnosed by biopsy analysis and patients with a diagnosis based on results of serology tests. METHODS: We analyzed data from iCureCeliac-a voluntary, PPRN hosted and distributed by the Celiac Disease Foundation, from January 30, 2016, through August 25, 2016. We compared data from adults with a diagnosis of celiac disease (mean age, 43.4 years; 85.6% female) based on biopsy analysis (n = 780) vs patients with a diagnosis based on only serologic analysis (n = 202) using univariate and multivariable analyses. We collected demographic information, as well as data on type of health care practitioner, where patients obtain their primary information about celiac disease, and the Celiac Disease Quality of Life score, nutritionist referral rates, adherence to the gluten-free diet, ongoing symptoms and use of supplements. RESULTS: Among patients with a diagnosis based on serology results, 33.3% were diagnosed by non-gastroenterologists vs 20.7% in the biopsy diagnosed group (P < .001). Fewer patients with a diagnosis based on serology results sought nutritional counseling at the time of diagnosis (40.1%) than patients with a diagnosis based on biopsy (58.9%) (P < .001). A higher proportion of patients diagnosed by serology without biopsy took dietary supplements to aid in digestion of gluten (19.8%) than patients with a diagnosis based on biopsy (8.9%) (P < .001). After we adjusted for age and sex, patients with a diagnosis based on serology were less likely to seek nutritional counseling after diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33-0.63), less likely to receive a diagnosis from a gastroenterologist (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.07-0.37), and more likely to use digestive supplements (OR, 2.61; 95%, CI 1.62-4.19). CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of data from a PPRN, we found that 21% of adult participants with celiac disease did not have a diagnosis based on a duodenal biopsy. Patients with a diagnosis based on serology results were more likely to be diagnosed by non-gastroenterologists, less likely to seek nutritional counseling, and more likely to use dietary supplements. Patients require more education about management of celiac disease and referral to gastroenterologists for duodenal biopsy confirmation of their disease.

Balloon tamponade for control of myotomy bleeding during peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Video 1Balloon tamponade for control of bleeding during peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Probiotic Use in Celiac Disease: Results from a National Survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with celiac disease (CD) commonly use supplements for perceived health benefits despite scant evidence. We aimed to characterize the prevalence and predictors of probiotic use among CD patients. METHODS: We analyzed data from iCureCeliac®; a patient-powered research network questionnaire distributed by the Celiac Disease Foundation. We included adults with self-reported CD who answered questions regarding demographics, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. We compared probiotic users versus probiotic non-users and subsequently performed multivariable logistic regression, assessing for independent predictors of probiotic use. RESULTS: 4,909 patients met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Of these, 1,160 (23.6%) responded to a question regarding probiotic use. The mean age of participants was 38.8 years and 82% were female. 381 patients (33%) reported using probiotics. More probiotic users sought nutritional counseling at time of diagnosis (36% vs. 30%, p=0.05) and remained symptomatic despite a gluten-free diet (40% vs. 25%, p <0.001). Probiotic users had lower scores on the pain subscale of the SF36 (63.7±21.6 vs. 69.5±22.1, p=0.006). On multivariable analysis, patients diagnosed after age 50 (OR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.37-3.04), and those with persistent symptoms despite a gluten-free diet (OR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.44-2.63) were more likely to use probiotics. CONCLUSION: In this large study of a national CD registry, roughly one-third of CD patients reported using probiotics. Patients diagnosed later in life were more likely to use probiotics and those who remained symptomatic despite a gluten-free diet were twice as likely to take probiotics. Patients may be seeking additional means of treatment for persistent symptoms.

The Effect of Depressive Symptoms on the Association between Gluten-Free Diet Adherence and Symptoms in Celiac Disease: Analysis of a Patient Powered Research Network.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression in celiac disease (CD) is high, and patients are often burdened socially and financially by a gluten-free diet. However, the relationship between depression, somatic symptoms and dietary adherence in CD is complex and poorly understood. We used a patient powered research network (iCureCeliac®) to explore the effect that depression has on patients' symptomatic response to a gluten-free diet (GFD). METHODS: We identified patients with biopsy-diagnosed celiac disease who answered questions pertaining to symptoms (Celiac Symptom Index (CSI)), GFD adherence (Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT)), and a 5-point, scaled question regarding depressive symptoms relating to patients' celiac disease. We then measured the correlation between symptoms and adherence (CSI vs. CDAT) in patients with depression versus those without depression. We also tested for interaction of depression with regard to the association with symptoms using a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: Among 519 patients, 86% were female and the mean age was 40.9 years. 46% of patients indicated that they felt "somewhat," "quite a bit," or "very much" depressed because of their disorder. There was a moderate correlation between worsened celiac symptoms and poorer GFD adherence (r = 0.6, p < 0.0001). In those with a positive depression screen, there was a moderate correlation between worsening symptoms and worsening dietary adherence (r = 0.5, p < 0.0001) whereas in those without depression, the correlation was stronger (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001). We performed a linear regression analysis, which suggests that the relationship between CSI and CDAT is modified by depression. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with depressive symptoms related to their disorder, correlation between adherence and symptoms was weaker than those without depressive symptoms. This finding was confirmed with a linear regression analysis, showing that depressive symptoms may modify the effect of a GFD on celiac symptoms. Depressive symptoms may therefore mask the relationship between inadvertent gluten exposure and symptoms. Additional longitudinal and prospective studies are needed to further explore this potentially important finding.