Effectiveness of oral vancomycin as prophylaxis against Clostridioides difficile infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are at increased risk for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of oral vancomycin prophylaxis (OVP) for CDI in HSCT patients. Design: Single-center, retrospective cohort. Setting: Tertiary care academic medical center in New Jersey. Patients: Patients ≥18 years old during admission for the HSCT were included. Patients who were admitted .05) between-group differences in incidence of gram-negative bloodstream infections, hospital survival, and length of stay. There were zero clinical cultures positive for VRE. Conclusions: In-hospital incidence of CDI in HSCT patients was significantly decreased with OVP. Randomized controlled trials are needed in this high-risk population to assess the efficacy and risks of OVP for CDI.