Intestinal Lavage for the Treatment of Severe C. Difficile Infections

Summary

Clostridium Difficile infections (CDIs) are treated initially with antibiotic therapy and supportive care, with surgical intervention reserved for patients with significant systemic toxicity or perforation. Severe CDI may be refractory to medical management and require surgical intervention, carrying a mortality of approximately 40%.

Mortality associated with CDI increases significantly as the severity of the infection increases. In patients failing medical management, earlier operation is associated with decreased mortality. However, the lack of validated tools to predict the necessity for surgical intervention, combined with the significant morbidity associated with total colectomy significantly reduces the likelihood of patients receiving early surgical intervention. The purpose of the proposed study is to assess the addition of intestinal PEG lavage via nasojejunal tube to usual care in the treatment of adult patients with severe CDI who have no immediate indication for surgical intervention.

Conditions

• Clostridium Difficile

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Intestinal Lavage

A nasojejunal tube and fecal management system will be inserted. Intestinal lavage with PEG is initiated and increased to a goal rate of 400cc/hour to a total of 8L of PEG. In the absence of an ileus, lavage should be initiated at 200cc/hr. Tolerance is confirmed if the rectal effluent volume is ≥50% of the lavage volume over the first 6 hours and no emesis has developed. If the consulting surgical service suspects a significant ileus, the lavage is initiated at 100cc/hr. If tolerance is confirmed the lavage rate is increased in a stepwise fashion. Antibiotic regimen will consist of Vancomycin 500mg via nasojejunal every 6 hours and Metronidazole 500 mg IV three times daily for 14 days. PEG will be held for 2 hours after administration of Vancomycin.

DRUG

Vancomycin

Patients will receive standard antibiotic treatment for severe CDI. This includes an antibiotic regimen of Vancomycin 500mg orally every 6 hours and Metronidazole 500mg IV three times daily for 14 days. The standard medical care group (active comparator group) will receive the same antibiotic doses as the experimental arm of the study For both arms, indications to escalate treatment to surgical intervention will ultimately be based on the clinical assessment by the surgical service. An absolute indication for surgery is perforation. Other indications such as toxic megacolon, worsening peritonitis or biochemical profile lavage are relative indications that vary according to clinician and individual patient characteristics.

DRUG

PEG

Polyethylene glycol 3350, 8L in 48 hours, via a nasojejunal tube will be used to facilitate intestinal lavage.

DRUG

Metronidazole

Patients will receive standard antibiotic treatment for severe CDI. This includes an antibiotic regimen of Vancomycin 500mg orally every 6 hours and Metronidazole 500mg IV three times daily for 14 days. The standard medical care group (active comparator group) will receive the same antibiotic doses as the experimental arm of the study For both arms, indications to escalate treatment to surgical intervention will ultimately be based on the clinical assessment by the surgical service. An absolute indication for surgery is perforation. Other indications such as toxic megacolon, worsening peritonitis or biochemical profile lavage are relative indications that vary according to clinician and individual patient characteristics.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• London Health Sciences Centre

  collaborator OTHER

• London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tina E Mele, MD PhD · London Health Sciences Centre

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-08-31

Primary Completion

2019-08-31

Completion

2019-08-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations