Clostridium Difficile Infection Linked to Antidepressant Use

Washington, DC: People who use antidepressants may be at greater risk for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), according to data published in BMC Medicine. CDI is among the most common types of hospital acquired infections and causes over 7,000 deaths annually in the US.

Antidepressants are among the types of medications thought to increase the risk for CDI. Researchers at the University of Michigan sought to determine if there is a link, and the nature of the risk. They found that people with major depression had a much a 36% higher chance of CDI than those without depression. Additionally, the researchers found two of the 12 drugs tested increased the risk of CDI, namely mirtazapine and fluoxetine, the risk doubling for each drug.

The researchers stress that they do not yet know whether the increase in CDI is due to microbial changes in the gut during depression or to the medications associated with depression. It has long been known that there is an association between depression and changes in the gastrointestinal system. This study could help identify those at increased risk for CDI.

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Last updated on May-8-13