Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
06:51
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
13.5K
Is obesity a risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection?
Emma Punni1, Jaime L Pula2, Fady Asslo3
1Department of Medical Education, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, USA.
Obesity Research & Clinical Practice
|February 10, 2015
Summary
This study found that obesity, measured by body mass index (BMI), was not a significant risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults. The findings indicate obesity may not universally increase CDI risk.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) epidemiology is increasingly studied due to rising hospital-acquired (HA) and community-acquired (CA) cases.
- Obesity has recently been suggested as an independent risk factor for CDI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate obesity as an exposure for both HA and CA CDI.
- To analyze obesity's role in adult patients (≥18 years) at a tertiary care facility.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- 189 CDI cases and 189 matched controls were analyzed using cross-sectional BMI data.
- Data were collected between January 2012 and July 2013.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in BMI was found between CDI cases and controls (median BMI: 26.5 vs. 26.0 kg/m²).
- BMI values were substantially equivalent between the groups (p=0.696).
- Odds ratios at BMIs of 25, 30, and 35 kg/m² did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Obesity, defined by BMI, may not be a universal risk factor for CDI.
- Further research may be needed to understand the relationship in diverse populations.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
14.7K
The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
14.7K
01:24Obesity
1.6K
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
1.6K
01:25Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
423
Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
423
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
2
Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Together, these factors lead to an exaggerated immune response against components of the gut microbiome.Genetic and Environmental InfluencesMultiple genetic...
2
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
1.6K
Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
1.6K
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
350
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
350