Real-World Comparison of Bezlotoxumab to Standard of Care Therapy for Prevention of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients at High Risk for Recurrence

Background Bezlotoxumab (BEZ) is a monoclonal antibody used to prevent recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). This study investigates BEZ effectiveness in relation to rCDI and patient-specific risk factors in a real-world setting. Methods A matched, retrospective cohort study was conducted from 2015 to 2019 to compare BEZ to historical standard of care (SoC) therapy with vancomycin or fidaxomicin. The primary outcome was incidence of 90-day rCDI. Secondary outcomes were incidence of all-cause hospital readmission and all-cause mortality at 90 days, infusion-related reactions, and incidence of heart failure exacerbation. Baseline confounding was addressed using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Results Overall, 107 participants were included (54 BEZ and 53 SoC). Mean number of prior CDI episodes was 2, median number of risk factors for rCDI was 4, and 28% of participants had severe CDI. Incidence of 90-day rCDI was 11% BEZ vs 43% SoC (P = < .001) and 90-day all-cause readmission was 40% BEZ vs 64% SoC (P = .011). In IPTW-adjusted analyses, BEZ was associated with significantly reduced odds of rCDI (odds ratio [OR], 0.14 [95% confidence interval {CI}: .05-.41]) and all-cause readmission (OR, 0.36 [95% CI: .16-.81]). No safety signals were detected with BEZ use. Conclusions BEZ is effective for the prevention of rCDI and reduction in all-cause hospital readmission for patients at high risk for recurrence, supporting current guideline recommendations. Bezlotoxumab was significantly associated with reduced odds of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection and all-cause readmission at 90 days on both unadjusted and adjusted analysis. Bezlotoxumab was well tolerated with low frequency of adverse events observed.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that bezlotoxumab (BEZ) is effective in preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) and reducing all-cause hospital readmission, supporting current guideline recommendations for high-risk patients. Bezlotoxumab was significantly associated with reduced odds of rCDI and all-cause readmission at 90 days on both unadjusted and adjusted analysis. Bezlotoxumab was well tolerated with low frequency of adverse events observed.