Characteristics of clostridium difficile infection, features of treatment and recurrence: four years overview in Šiauliai republic hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Clostridium difficile is a species of anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium. Its vegetative cells can be found in human colon where they make up about 0.01-0.001 % of normal gut flora. Antibiotic therapy can disrupt the normal balance of the gut flora, in which case C. difficile count may rise up to 40% and cause Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). CDI is a leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illnesses. C. difficile produces toxins which can cause symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to a severe life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Patients with CDI typically have extended lengths-of-stay in hospitals; it worsens patients’ health condition and may even be a cause of death.AIM The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of CDI, evaluate the risk factors, resistance and recurrence of the infection in patients treated in Šiauliai Republic Hospital between January 1st 2014 and December 31st 2017.METHODS A retrospective study was performed at Šiauliai Republic Hospital. 484 case histories of patients who were diagnosed with CDI between January 1st 2014 and December 31st 2017 were analysed. The following data was collected from medical documents: department, age, gender, date of diagnosis, treatment before and after CDI diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS v23 software. Quantitative variables were described as the mean, standard deviation (SD) and minimal and maximal values. Qualitative variables were described as the absolute number and its percentage expression. χ2 was used to assess relations between qualitative variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to find prognostic factors of CDI refractory to treatment.484 patients were diagnosed CDI of which 199 (41.1%) were men and 285 (58.9%) were women. In the year 2014 CDI was diagnosed to 36 patients (7.4%), yr. 2015 – 124 patients (25.6%), yr. 2016 – 147 patients (30.4%), [...].