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World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2011; 17(18): 2356-2356
Published online May 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i18.2356
Published online May 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i18.2356
Prophylactic antibiotics for variceal hemorrhage: Clostridium difficile infection still can be a risk
Naohiro Okano, Department of Emergency Medicine, Saitama Red Cross Hospital, Kamiochiai 8-3-33, Chuoku, Saitama, Saitama, 338-8553, Japan
Kentaro Iwata, Division of Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Hospital, 7-5-1 Kusunokicho, Chuoku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan
Author contributions: Okano N and Iwata K contributed equally to this work, wrote the paper and read the article critically and made discussion regarding the article.
Correspondence to: Kentaro Iwata, MD, MSc, FACP, FIDSA, Division of Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Hospital, Kusunoki-cho 7-5-2, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan. kentaroiwata1969@gmail.com
Telephone: +81-78-3826296 Fax: +81-78-3826298
Received: January 6, 2011
Revised: January 29, 2011
Accepted: February 5, 2011
Published online: May 14, 2011
Revised: January 29, 2011
Accepted: February 5, 2011
Published online: May 14, 2011
Abstract
Bron et al presented a retrospective study regarding the prophylactic use of antibiotics for variceal hemorrhage. Antibiotics appeared to improve the survival rate of patients without increasing clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We argue against the conclusion of the authors and consider that this result may be simply due to concurrent use of metronidazole, a therapeutic agent against CDI.