Clinical characteristics associated with the severity of Clostridium difficile infection in a tertiary teaching hospital from Mexico

Abstract Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea worldwide. In this study, risk factors associated with the development of severe-complicated and recurrent outcomes in CDI patients in different age groups, including the non-elderly, were assessed in a third-level hospital. Methods CDI cases were detected by clinical data and polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR). Clinical, demographic, epidemiological, and microbiological risk factors for CDI were evaluated. Results During the study period, 248 out of 805 patients with nosocomial diarrhea were diagnosed with CDI and the majority were severe-complicated cases (87.90%). Female gender (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.19-8.55, p=0.02) and lymphoma (OR 3.95, 95% CI 1.03-15.13, p=0.04) were risk factors for severe-complicated CDI. Mature adulthood (51-60 years) (OR 5.80, 95% CI 1.56-21.62, p=0.01), previous rifampicin use (OR 7.44, 95% CI 2.10-26.44, p=0.00), and neoplasm (solid malignant neoplasm or hematological malignancies) (OR 4.12, 95% CI 1.01-16.83, p= 0.04) were risk factors for recurrent infection. Autoimmune disorders (OR 6.62, CI 95% 1.26-34.73, p= 0.02), leukemia (OR 4.97, 95% CI 1.05-23.58, p= 0.04), lymphoma (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.03-12.07, p=0.04) and previous colistin treatment (OR 4.97, 95% CI 1.05-23.58, p= 0.04) were risk factors for 30-day mortality. Conclusion Newly identified risk factors for recurrent CDI were rifampicin treatment and age between 51-60 years; colistin treatment was identified as a risk factor for 30-day mortality. Previously identified risk factors for severe-complicated CDI were confirmed, but with a major impact on non-elderly patients.