Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and outcome of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea

Objective: Clotridium difficile gastrointestinal disease is an important nosocomial infection and is associated with recent antibiotic use. This study evaluated C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) over a 2-yr period. Methods: All 60 patients with C. difficile enterotoxin in their stools, and diarrhea, were retrospectively analyzed at a 615-bed teaching hospital. Institution antibiotic usage and discharge medical diagnoses were correlated with the study patients. Results: Thirty-eight study patients (53%) had major or extreme admitting symptoms. Only four (7%) had no co-morbid illness. The incidence of CDAD increased significantly (p< 0.05) after 4 wk of hospitalization