Complicated or Recurrent C. diff Telehealth Service

C.diff Telehealth Providers

  • Cynthia Louise Sears, MD

    • Bloomberg-Kimmel Professorship of Cancer Immunotherapy

    Expertise: Infectious Diseases

    Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD

    Research Publications

  • Paul G. Auwaerter, MD MBA

    • Clinical Director, Division of Infectious Diseases

    Expertise: Infectious Diseases

    Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center - Green Spring Station, Lutherville, Lutherville, MD

  • Sean M Anderson, MD

    Expertise: Infectious Diseases

    Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center - Green Spring Station, Lutherville, Lutherville, MD

Services

We offer

  • Diagnosis and treatment recommendations for C. difficile and other enteric infections
  • Access to microbiome replacement therapies including Vowst (fecal microbiota spores live-brpk) and Rebyota (fecal microbiota live-jslm); we can offer administration of Rebyota either on-campus or via linkages to the home infusion program. In select cases, traditional fecal microbiota transplant may be offered if supply is available.
  • Access to Bezlotoxumab infusion at one of our clinic locations (East Baltimore or Green Spring Station campuses)
  • Connection to clinical trials of novel microbiome replacement therapies
  • Access to participation in non-clinical-trial research projects
  • Referrals to gastroenterology or dietitian services
     

Information for Patients

This clinic serves patients with difficult-to-treat C. difficile infections, particularly those that have come back despite courses of antibiotics. If you are referred to our clinic, we will review your diagnosis, recommend additional testing or treatment if needed, and discuss whether you are a candidate for microbiome replacement therapy (of which there are now multiple options including oral and enema-based therapies) and/or Bezlotoxumab (Zinplava), an immune-based therapy. The providers who work in our clinic may also be able to enroll you in cutting-edge clinic trials for other microbiome replacement therapies. While you will be seen by an infectious diseases provider during your visit, we maintain close collaborations with gastroenterologists and dietitians to whom you can be referred if needed.


Information for Providers

We accept referrals from primary care or specialist providers for a number of indications. We are happy to see patients with ambiguous C. difficile testing results for discussion of further work-up or research connections, those with confirmed C. difficile recurrences for linkage to microbiome replacement therapy or clinical trials, or those with a history of C. difficile who have a high risk for recurrence to discuss preventative strategies including prophylaxis. We do not accept patients who have no history of a positive C. difficile test result. For referrals receiving treatment for recurrent C. difficile infection, it is very helpful for access to microbiome replacement therapies if the patient is still receiving antibacterial therapy (including via a tapered regimen) at least through the date of their clinic appointment.