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Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are a common manifestation of COVID‑19., Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether GI symptoms persist in patients previously infected with SARS‑CoV‑2 in the form of post‑infection irritable bowel syndrome (PI‑IBS)., Patients and Methods: A prospective, single‑center evaluation of questions regarding IBS was conducted using the Rome IV Adult Diagnostic Questionnaire among 257 patients previously hospitalized for COVID‑19., Results: GI symptoms (abdominal pain with diarrhea or constipation) were reported at the following time points: at discharge from the hospital, and after 3 and 6 months of follow‑up. GI symptoms not meeting the full Rome IV diagnostic criteria for IBS due to too short symptom duration were reported by 28 individuals (10.6%) at hospital discharge, 58 (22.3%) after 3 months, and 70 (26.9%) after 6 months. The full Rome IV criteria for IBS were not met at discharge by any of the participants, but they were met after 3 and 6 months of follow‑up in 14 (5.4%) and 15 individuals (5.8%), respectively., Conclusion: Persistent GI symptoms following COVID‑19 are frequent and deserve significant and growing attention of gastroenterologists and other health care practitioners. The Rome IV criteria may be too strict to address the full spectrum of GI symptoms following COVID‑19.

Introduction: The use of antibiotics and possibility of microbiota disruption during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic have raised questions about the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI)., Objectives: This study aimed to assess the frequency of and risk factors for CDI in patients with COVID‑19., Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single‑center evaluation study on the frequency of and risk factors for CDI in patients with COVID‑19 and in the prepandemic era. The analysis included 441 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection and 2961 pa‑ tients hospitalized before the pandemic., Results: A significant increase in the incidence of CDI was noted during the COVID‑19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period: 10.9% versus 2.6%, P <0.001. Risk factors for CDI in patients with COVID‑19 included: age, length of hospital stay, occurrence of diarrhea during hospitalization, use of antibiotics other than azithromycin, and coexistence of nervous system disease or chronic kidney disease-all of these factos had a weak association with CDI development. The multivariable logistic regression model indicated other unassessed variables that had an impact on the CDI incidence rate., Conclusions: We observed a higher incidence of CDI in patients with COVID‑19. Antibiotic therapy was a relevant risk factor for CDI, although its effect was weak. Other drugs used during the pandemic were not found to have an impact on disease development. Possible causes of CDI may include fecal microbiota disruption by SARS‑CoV‑2 infection, but further research is needed to validate this hypothesis.

SARS-CoV-2 infection manifests mainly by involving the respiratory system. Due to the presence of abdominal symptoms, the digestive system is clearly involved in the expression, transmission, and possible pathogenesis of COVID-19. There are many theories regarding the development of abdominal symptoms, including angiotensin 2 receptor, cytokine storm, and disturbances of the intestinal microbiome. This paper provides an overview of the most important meta-analyses and publications on gastrointestinal symptoms and the gut microbiome in COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can be considered as a manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aim: Our study analysed GI symptoms depending on their occurrence, and their possible causes and impact on the course of COVID-19. Material and methods: A retrospective, single-centre assessment of the frequency, risk factors, and impact of GI symptoms in 441 patients with COVID-19. Results: A statistically significant reduction in the length of stay (LOS) (15 days vs. 17 days; p = 0.04), intensive care unit admission (ICU) (16.9% vs. 26.8%; p = 0.02), and need for mechanical ventilation (14.1% vs. 23.4%; p = 0.02) in the group who had experienced GI symptoms before hospitalization was noticed. For comparison, patients who developed GI symptoms during hospitalization had statistically significantly longer LOS (21 days vs. 15 days; p = 0.0001), were more frequently admitted to the ICU (38.1% vs. 18.6%; p = 0.0003), and had a higher need for mechanical ventilation (32.7% vs. 16.2%; p < 0.001). Risk factors for GI symptoms during hospitalization in COVID-19 patients included age, Clostridioides difficile infection, and receiving certain treatment (antibiotics and lopinavir + ritonavir). Conclusions: The GI symptoms that developed before admission to hospital correlated with reduced severity of the course of COVID-19. However, in the group of patients who developed GI symptoms during hospitalization, attention should be paid to concomitant treatment. The use of antibiotics should be limited because they are associated with the deterioration of the course of COVID-19; one of the reasons might be changes in the intestinal microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is known that the virus SARS-CoV-2 can attack the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and induce gastroenteritis. This can trigger a wide variety of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) or functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), including post-infectious dyspepsia, which remains underestimated. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms following COVID-19, immediately after discharge and 3, 6, and 9 months after hospitalization. Material and methods: A prospective, single-centre evaluation of questions regarding functional dyspepsia (FD) as assessed by the Gastroduodenal Module of ROME IV Diagnostic Questionnaire for Adult FGIDs among 320 patients who had had COVID-19. Results: The FD ROME IV criteria were met at the respective time-points by 0.0% (0), 4.8% (12), 3.2% (8), and 3.2% (8) of cases. However, the presence of GI symptoms that suggested FD but did not meet the timeframe ROME IV criteria for FD were found in 9.6% (24), 23.5% (59), 20.7% (52), and 20.7% (52) of cases, respectively. Conclusions: The presence and persistence of gastrointestinal dyspeptic symptoms following COVID-19 is a significant problem. The timeframe of the Rome IV criteria may underestimate the number of patients with persistent dyspeptic symptoms following COVID-19 disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]