title: Mortality and risk stratification in patients with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the mortality in hospital patients with a first documented episode of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) and to identify prognostic risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study of 158 patients was carried out with CDAD diagnosed over a 8-month period in a large acute UK teaching hospital. Logistic multivariable regression aided construction of a scoring system to stratify risk of death. The main outcome measure was the 30-day inpatient mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most affected patients were medical (n = 101, 64%), with general surgical (n = 30, 19%) and orthopaedic patients (n = 27, 17%) forming the rest. General surgical patients (mean age 78 years) were significantly younger than medical (82 years) or orthopaedic patients (85 years, P = 0.008). Overall 30-day mortality was 38%. 30-day mortality was higher in medical (46%) and orthopaedic patients (37%) compared with general surgical patients (13%, P = 0.006). Most surgical patients were those admitted as an emergency. A scoring system was devised and used within the first 72 h. A point was awarded for each of the following: age > or = 80 years, clinically severe disease (sepsis, peritonitis, > or = 10 episodes of diarrhoea in 24 h), WCC > or = 20 or CRP > or = 150, urea > or = 15, albumin < or = 20. Point counts of 0-1, 2-3 and 4-5 were associated with mortality rates of 22%, 55% and 89% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inpatient mortality from CDAD is high. Variability exists between different specialities. Patients at high risk of death can potentially be identified earlier using clinical and biochemical risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Dudley Group of Hospital NHS Trust, Russells Hall Hospitals, Dudley, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhangu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhangu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nightingale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michael
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000401:mortality*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000401:mortality*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology