Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: May 25, 2017
Prolonged non-operative management of clostridium difficile colitis is associated with increased mortality,
Bradley R Hall1, Priscila R Armijo2, Jennifer A Leinicke1
1Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986246 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6246, USA.
Background:
We aim to investigate the effects of delaying surgery on outcomes and cost in patients admitted with severe clostridium difficile infection (CDI).
Methods:
The Vizient database was queried for patients with CDI who underwent open total abdominal colectomy (TAC). Patients operated on the day of admission were excluded. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, student T-test, and logistic regression were performed with α = 0.05.
Results:
Logistic regression analyses using days from admission to surgery (DATO), age, race, and gender demonstrated that increased DATO was associated with higher 30-day mortality (OR 1.022, 95% CI 1.001-1.044, p = 0.040), overall complications (OR 1.034, 95% CI 1.014-1.054, p = 0.001), and infectious complications (OR 1.040, 95% CI 1.018-1.062, p < 0.001) compared to age for all three outcomes. Total length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit LOS, and direct cost increased in conjunction with DATO (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Early surgical intervention in appropriately selected patients should be considered when there is a high suspicion for prolonged non-operative treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
Increasing Function
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma

