Epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile Infections in Germany, 2010-2019: A Review from Four Public Databases

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) poses a global threat, particularly to vulnerable populations.
• It presents challenges in both hospital and community settings due to severe courses, recurrence, high mortality, and significant healthcare costs.
• The CDI burden in Germany has been analyzed using data from four public databases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare the hospital burden of CDI in Germany from 2010-2019.
• To compare CDI-related hospital days with those of vaccine-preventable diseases like influenza and herpes zoster.
• To compare German CDI hospitalizations with those in the United States.

Main Methods:

• Data extraction and comparison from four public databases for CDI hospital burden (2010-2019).
• Analysis of CDI patient days and comparison with influenza and herpes zoster.
• Comparison of CDI hospitalization incidence between Germany and the US.

Main Results:

• Comparable incidences and trends were reported across all four databases.
• Hospitalized CDI incidence increased to a peak in 2013, then declined by 2019.
• The majority of hospitalized CDI patients were over 50 years old, with significant patient days exceeding those for influenza and herpes zoster in many years.
• CDI mortality exceeded 1,000 deaths annually, and German hospitalization rates were higher than in the US.

Conclusions:

• Despite a documented decline in CDI cases since 2013, the overall disease burden remains substantial.
• CDI continues to be a severe public health challenge requiring ongoing attention.
• Further research and public health interventions are warranted to mitigate the impact of CDI.