title: The simple predictors of pseudomembranous colitis in patients with hospital-acquired diarrhea: a prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the incidence rate of and mortality from pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) are increasing worldwide, it is important to study the simple predictive risk factors for PMC among patients with hospital-acquired diarrhea (HAD). This study focused on identifying the clinical risk factors that can easily predict PMC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presumed HAD patients were prospectively recruited at the Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age of 70 and older (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 0.75), use of proton pump inhibitors (adjusted OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 2.512 to 6.57), use of cephalosporins (adjusted OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.82 to 4.94), and underlying cancer (adjusted OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.82) were independent risk factors for PMC in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of PMC was very low in the patients with HAD who exhibited no risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk factors for PMC in patients with HAD included cephalosporin use, proton pump inhibitor use, old age, and cancer. Considering the strongly negative predictive values of these risk factors, endoscopic evaluation can be delayed in patients with HAD without risk of developing PMC.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Bo Kyung
authors: BK
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Byung Ju
authors: BJ
authors: Do
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eun Jung
authors: EJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ji Un
authors: JU
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Mi Hee
authors: MH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jin Gu
authors: JG
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyoung Su
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung Ho
authors: KH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Myoung Kuk
authors: MK
authors: Jang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jin Heon
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hak Yang
authors: HY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Woon Geon
authors: WG
authors: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Enterocolitis, pseudomembranous; Predictors; Risk factors