Can vancomycin and nitrofurantoin exacerbate Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection?

From the Research

Vancomycin and C. difficile Infection

• The use of vancomycin as a treatment for Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection has been studied extensively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Vancomycin has been shown to be effective in preventing recurrent C. difficile infection in patients who have been previously diagnosed with the infection and are re-exposed to antibiotics 1, 5.
• However, the evidence does not suggest that vancomycin exacerbates C. difficile infection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Nitrofurantoin and C. difficile Infection

• There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that nitrofurantoin exacerbates C. difficile infection.
• The studies primarily focus on the use of vancomycin and metronidazole in the treatment and prevention of C. difficile infection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Comparison of Antibiotics

• A meta-analysis comparing vancomycin and metronidazole for the treatment of C. difficile infection found no significant difference in therapeutic effects for non-severe cases, but vancomycin was more effective in severe cases 4.
• The use of oral vancomycin as secondary prophylaxis has been shown to decrease the risk of further recurrence in patients with a history of recurrent C. difficile infection who are re-exposed to antibiotics 1.