Medical implications of nosocomial infection with Clostridium difficile

88 patients above the age of 60 years who contracted Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea (CDAD) between 1979 and 1986, mostly during their stay in hospital were studied retrospectively as regards nursing time and clinical outcome. These patients were compared with 176 control patients who were matched according to diagnosis on admission to hospital, sex, age and underlying disease. Thromboembolic complications occurred in 14% in CDAD patients (controls 4%) (p = 0.0042). The mortality rate was 21% in CDAD and 7% in controls (p = 0.0009). The median time in hospital for CDAD patients was 50 days (14 days for controls).