Clinician Management Preferences for Clostridioides difficile Infection in Adults: A 2024 Emerging Infections Network Survey.

Background

The 2021 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) guidelines for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) introduced new recommendations for managing initial and recurrent CDI. Since then, new microbiome-based therapies for preventing recurrent CDI have become available. We surveyed infectious diseases (ID) clinicians to understand their experiences, practices, and challenges in CDI management.

Methods

An electronic survey was distributed to members of the IDSA Emerging Infections Network in May 2024, targeting ID physicians and healthcare professionals in the United States who manage adult CDI. The survey assessed treatment preferences, clinical practices, and barriers to accessing and prescribing CDI therapies.

Results

Of the 500 respondents who reported treating CDI in the past year, 83% (417/500) indicated that vancomycin was their most frequently prescribed agent for initial, nonfulminant CDI. Additionally, 72% (357/498) reported that their institutional guidelines recommended vancomycin as the first-line agent. The most common barrier to fidaxomicin use was challenges with outpatient insurance coverage (82% [408/496]). Bezlotoxumab was available to 74% (370/500) of respondents, though 33% (165/497) indicated they do not use bezlotoxumab routinely. Most clinicians (87% [437/500]) had previously recommended fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for recurrent CDI, though only 48% (239/500) had current access to FMT using donor stool. Fecal microbiota live-jslm was available to 36% (179/500), and fecal microbiota spores live-brpk was available to 30% (150/500).

Conclusions

Significant barriers, including high costs, insurance challenges, and limited availability of CDI therapies, impact clinical decision-making and adherence to guideline recommendations.