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Review
. 2025 Oct 14;56(1):200.
doi: 10.1007/s12029-025-01321-w.

C. difficile Infection in Colorectal Cancer: Risk Determinants, Outcomes, and Evolving Management Approaches

Mustafa Khalid AbdulJabbar  1 , Susan Saab Manfi Al-Rawi  2 , Bilal Khaleel Midhin  3 , Roghayeh Mohammadzadeh  4 , Raad N Hasan  1 , Mobina Kouhzad  5 , Nasrin Alanchari  6 , Erta Rajabi  7
Affiliations
Review

C. difficile Infection in Colorectal Cancer: Risk Determinants, Outcomes, and Evolving Management Approaches

Mustafa Khalid AbdulJabbar et al. J Gastrointest Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent cancer globally and poses a considerable public health challenge; concurrently, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) represents a significant hospital-acquired infection, with a rising incidence observed among cancer patients.

Aim: To examine the relationship between CDI and CRC, it will address the risk factors associated with CDI in patients with CRC, clinical outcomes, recent findings regarding the influence of CDI on CRC, and the current strategies for management.

Results: Risk factors including gut microbiota dysbiosis, surgical interventions, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, prolonged hospitalization, and antibiotic exposure elevate susceptibility to CDI in CRC patients. Additionally, CDI correlates with more complex treatment regimens and longer hospital stays in this demographic. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that the incidence of CDI may increase the risk of CRC development.

Conclusion: The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CDI in CRC patients are critical for enhancing outcomes. A comprehensive understanding of the bidirectional relationship between CDI and CRC can guide the development of management strategies for this important clinical issue.

Keywords: Clostridioides difficile infection; Colorectal cancer; Diagnosis; Gut microbiota; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics Approval: Not applicable. Informed Consent: Not applicable. Consent to Participate: Not applicable. Consent for Publication: Not applicable. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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