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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

A Protein Microarray Assay for Serological Determination of Antigen-specific Antibody Responses Following Clostridium difficile Infection
09:12

A Protein Microarray Assay for Serological Determination of Antigen-specific Antibody Responses Following Clostridium difficile Infection

Published on: June 15, 2018

Laboratory markers as predictors of mortality in patients with Clostridium difficile infection

Chaitanya Pant1, Phillip Madonia, Anil Minocha

  • 1Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, 71103-4228, USA. cpant@lsuhsc.edu

Journal of Investigative Medicine : the Official Publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
|October 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

For severe Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), renal impairment is a key predictor of mortality. Leukocytosis, previously thought significant, was not an independent predictor in this study, suggesting a need for new markers in specific patient groups.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Severe Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has known laboratory markers.
  • Leukocytosis is a commonly identified marker for severe CDI.
  • The predictive value of these markers for mortality requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the validity of laboratory markers in predicting mortality in patients with CDI.
  • To identify independent predictors of mortality in CDI patients.
  • To explore alternative markers for severe CDI in specific populations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of laboratory markers in CDI patients.
  • Exclusion of patients with pre-existing hematologic conditions affecting leukocytosis.
  • Univariate and logistic regression analyses to assess marker association with mortality.

Main Results:

  • Leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, elevated blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were associated with mortality on univariate analysis.
  • Renal impairment (elevated creatinine and BUN) emerged as the sole independent predictor of mortality (OR, 5.07).
  • Leukocytosis was not an independent predictor after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusions:

  • Renal impairment is a significant independent predictor of mortality in CDI.
  • Leukocytosis may not be a reliable independent predictor of mortality in all CDI patients, especially after adjusting for confounders.
  • Further research is needed to identify alternative laboratory markers for severe CDI, particularly in immunocompromised patients with leukopenia.

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