Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Efficacy of Vancomycin Taper and Pulse Regimens in Clostridioides difficile Infection

Department

Internal Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy

Abstract

Background: Vancomycin is the drug of choice for treating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). We compare CDI resolution with vancomycin taper, pulse, and taper-and-pulse regimens.

Methods: We searched for Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus through October 9th, 2020. Taper regimen was defined as dose reduction over time; pulse was a regimen less frequent than daily. Studies assessing CDI resolution rates were included. Meta-analyses for resolution rates were performed using weighted proportion ratios (WPR).

Results: Ten studies with 675 patients treated with vancomycin regimens were included. Resolution rates were 83% (212/266, 95% CI 69-94%, I2= 85%) for taper-and-pulse, 68% (264/383, 95% CI 57-78%, I2 = 72%) for taper alone, and 54% (11/26 95% CI 0-100%, I2 = 86%) for pulse alone regimens. Taper-and-pulse was superior to taper alone (WPR 83% vs 68%, p < 0.0001) and pulse alone (WPR 83% vs 54%, p < 0.0004), no significant difference between taper alone or pulse alone (WPR 68% vs 54%, p = 0.1).

Conclusions: Limitations of our analysis are a small number of included studies and heterogeneity. Vancomycin taper-and-pulse seems superior to pulse alone or taper alone for recurrent CDI. A randomized controlled trial comparing vancomycin taper-and-pulse to fidaxomicin and microbiome restoration is needed.

First Page

577

Last Page

583

DOI

10.1080/14787210.2022.1997588

Volume

20

Issue

4

Publication Date

4-1-2022

PubMed ID

34693838

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