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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
06:51
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Clinical risk factors for severe Clostridium difficile-associated disease
Timothy J Henrich1, Douglas Krakower, Asaf Bitton
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. thenrich@partners.org
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|February 26, 2009
Summary
Identifying severe Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) early is crucial. Key indicators include advanced age, high white blood cell count, low albumin, elevated creatinine, and signs of bowel obstruction or inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is a significant healthcare-associated infection.
- Early identification of patients at high risk for severe CDAD is essential for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare clinical features distinguishing severe from non-severe CDAD.
- To identify predictive markers for severe CDAD in hospitalized patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for hospitalized patients with positive C. difficile toxin fecal assays.
- Statistical analysis using regression modeling to identify significant associations with severe CDAD.
Main Results:
- Of 336 patients, 12.2% experienced severe CDAD.
- Factors significantly associated with severe CDAD included age >70 years, maximum leukocyte count >20,000 cells/mL, minimum albumin level <2.5 g/dL, maximum creatinine level >2 mg/dL, small bowel obstruction or ileus, and CT findings of colorectal inflammation.
- Mortality from all causes was 10.1%.
Conclusions:
- Clinical and laboratory markers can aid in identifying patients at high risk for severe CDAD.
- These markers may help clinicians predict serious outcomes or death in patients with CDAD.
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