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Updated: May 26, 2026
12:58
A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: May 25, 2017
Outcomes in community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection
S Khanna1, D S Pardi, S L Aronson
1Division of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|January 11, 2012
Summary
Community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) can lead to severe outcomes, including hospitalization. Older age and comorbidities are key predictors of hospitalization in CA-CDI patients.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) is increasingly recognized.
- Cases are emerging in individuals without traditional risk factors.
- Outcomes for CA-CDI are not well-documented due to a focus on hospital-acquired infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the outcomes of patients diagnosed with CA-CDI.
- To identify predictors associated with adverse outcomes in CA-CDI cases.
Main Methods:
- Sub-group analysis of a population-based epidemiological study.
- Data collected from Olmsted County, Minnesota, between 1991-2005.
- Analysis focused on severity, treatment response, hospitalization, and recurrence rates.
Main Results:
- 157 CA-CDI cases analyzed; median age 50, 75.3% female.
- 40% required hospitalization, 20% severe disease, 4.4% severe-complicated disease.
- Hospitalized patients were older, had more severe disease, and higher comorbidity scores.
Conclusions:
- CA-CDI can result in significant complications and poor outcomes.
- Clinicians must recognize risk factors like age, comorbidities, and disease severity.
- Awareness is crucial as CA-CDI incidence rises.
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