Can Use of Bismuth Subsalicylate in Clostridium Difficile Patients Decrease the Length of Stay and Time to Resolution of Symptoms

Clostridium difficile (C.Diff) infection is the leading cause of hospital acquired infection and infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients. Eradication treatment for this infection is the challenging task for clinicians due to treatment resistance developed from new hypervirulent strains. The recurrence rate of this infection is around 20% and there is high likelihood (60-70%) of another episode after index recurrence. Given constant challenges new treatment options are under study.

The purpose of this study is to examine if the addition of bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) (the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol) 524 mg ((2) 262 mg tablets) given four times per day for 14 days to standard of care treatment of C.Diff will decrease the length of stay and decrease the time to resolution of C.Diff symptoms compared to patients who received standard of care treatment for C.Diff alone.

Bismuth subsalicylate has been used for long time in infectious diarrhea and is over the counter drug with few side effects. Studies in hamsters have shown bismuth subsalicylate to be effective in treating C.Diff. Investigators believe given cheaper cost and less side effect profile this drug is worth looking for treatment of C.Diff infection which has a huge burden on health care.

This is an open label, randomized, controlled trial. Hospitalized patients aged 18 years or older with positive stool test for C.Diff toxin will be randomized to one of two treatment groups:

Group 1 will receive standard of care treatment for C.Diff alone Group 2 will receive BSS 524 mg four times daily for 14 days along with standard of care treatment Oral antibiotic therapy will be limited to oral vancomycin 125 mg every 6 hours daily which is the standard dose for the treatment of clostridium difficile.