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Risk factors for early recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea

Abstract

Recurrence is a common sequela of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDD) and may increase morbidity, costs, and treatment-related antimicrobial resistance. Because recurrent CDD (RCDD) frequently occurs very soon after an initial episode, our goal was to determine the risk factors for early RCDD (occurring < or = 45 days after the initial episode). We conducted a case-control study, comparing 13 patients with early RCDD (case patients) with 46 patients who had only one CDD episode (control patients) at Centre Hospitalier Angrignon (Québec) during January 1993 through November 1994. Risk factors for early RCDD included a history of chronic renal insufficiency, a white blood cell count of > or = 15 x 10(3)/mm3, and community-acquired diarrhea with the first CDD episode.… Read more