Cost-effectiveness of competing strategies for management of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection: a decision analysis

Abstract

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an important cause of morbidity and healthcare costs, and is characterized by high rates of disease recurrence. The cost-effectiveness of newer treatments for recurrent CDI has not been examined, yet would be important to inform clinical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost effectiveness of competing strategies for recurrent CDI.

Methods: We constructed a decision-analytic model comparing 4 treatment strategies for first-line treatment of recurrent CDI in a population with a median age of 65 years: metronidazole, vancomycin, fidaxomicin, and fecal microbiota transplant (FMT). We modeled up to 2 additional recurrences following the initial recurrence. We assumed FMT delivery via colonoscopy as our base case, but conducted sensitivity analyses based on different modes of delivery. Willingness-to-pay threshold was set at $50 000 per quality-adjusted life-year.

Results: At our base case estimates, initial treatment of recurrent CDI using FMT colonoscopy was the most cost-effective strategy, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $17 016 relative to oral vancomycin. Fidaxomicin and metronidazole were both dominated by FMT colonoscopy. On sensitivity analysis, FMT colonoscopy remained the most cost-effective strategy at cure rates >88.4% and CDI recurrence rates <14.9%. Fidaxomicin required a cost <$1359 to meet our cost-effectiveness threshold. In clinical settings where FMT is not available or applicable, the preferred strategy appears to be initial treatment with oral vancomycin.

Conclusions: In this decision analysis examining treatment strategies for recurrent CDI, we demonstrate that FMT colonoscopy is the most cost-effective initial strategy for management of recurrent CDI.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile infection; fecal microbiota transplant; fidaxomicin; metronidazole; vancomycin.

Figure 1.

Two-way sensitivity analysis on cost and probability of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection with initial fidaxomicin treatment. Strategies were considered cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50 000 per quality-adjusted life-year. The smaller shaded area represents the most cost-effective strategy at any given cost and efficacy of fidaxomicin. Abbreviations: CDI, Clostridium difficile infection; FMT, fecal microbiota transplant.