title: A review of mortality due to Clostridium difficile infection.
abstract: In this review we examine published literature to ascertain mortality in relation to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and the factors associated with mortality. In the 27 studies that had sufficient data, there were 10975 cases of CDI with great heterogeneity in the methods for reporting mortality. We calculated the overall associated mortality to be at least 5.99% within 3 months of diagnosis. The most important finding is that higher mortality is associated with advanced age, being 13.5% in patients over 80 years. Studies performed after 2000 had a significantly higher mortality than those before this date. We propose minimum standards for reporting mortality in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology & Public Health Laboratory, Health Protection Agency, Box 236, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. andreas.karas@papworth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Karas
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Enoch
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Aliyu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult