title: Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection: results of a hospital-based study in Krakow, Poland.
abstract: Over the past two decades Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has appeared as a major public health threat. We performed a retrospective study based on the records of patients hospitalized for CDI at the University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, between 2008 and 2014. In the study period, CDI occurred in 1009 individuals. There were 790 (78%) individuals who developed infection only once, whereas 219 (22%) developed infection more than once. The percentage of deaths within 14 days of CDI confirmation was 2·4%, with a mean age of 74·2 ± 15·9 years. Crude mortality was 12·9% in medical wards, 5·6% for surgical wards and 27·7% in the ICU setting. The time span between diagnosis and death was 5·1 days on average. Between 2008 and 2012 a 6·5-fold increase of CDI frequency with a posterior stabilization and even reduction in 2013 and 2014 was observed. According to the data analysed, 2/3 patients in our population developed CDI during their hospitalization even though they were admitted for different reasons. Medical wards pose a significantly higher risk of CDI than the surgical ones. Age is a risk factor for CDI recurrence. In the case of patients who died, death occurred shortly after diagnosis. The first CDI episode poses much higher risk of mortality than the consecutive ones.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases,Jagiellonian University Medical College,Krakow,Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Czepiel
authors: Microbiology Department,University Hospital,Krakow,Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kędzierska
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases,Jagiellonian University Medical College,Krakow,Poland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Biesiada
authors: Infectious Diseases Ward,University Hospital,Krakow,Poland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Birczyńska
authors: Students' Scientific Society,Jagiellonian University Medical College,Krakow,Poland.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Perucki
authors: Microbiology Department,University Hospital,Krakow,Poland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Nowak
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases,Jagiellonian University Medical College,Krakow,Poland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Garlicki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Clostridium difficile; epidemiology; incidence rate; intensive care unit; mortality