Risk of Hospital-Onset C. difficile Infection Increases With Prior Inpatient and Outpatient Visits

Abstract

Background:Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, and greater healthcare exposure is a primary risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Longer hospital stays and greater CDI pressure, both at the hospital level and the level, have been linked to greater risk. In addition, symptoms associated with healthcare-associated CDI often do not present until a patient has been discharged. Our study objective was to estimate the extent to which exposure to different types of healthcare settings (eg, prior hospitalization, emergency department [ED], outpatient or long-term care) increase risk for hospital-onset CDI. Methods: We conducted a case-control study using the Truven Marketscan Commerical Claims and Medicare Supplemental databases from 2001 to 2017. Case patients were selected as all inpatient visits with a secondary diagnosis of CDI and no previous CDI diagnosis in the prior 90 days. Controls were selected from all inpatient admissions without any CDI diagnosis during the current admission or prior 90 days. A logistic regression model was used to estimate risk associated with prior healthcare exposure. Indicators were created for prior exposure to different healthcare settings: separate indicators were used to indicate transfer, exposure to that setting in the prior 1–30 days, 31–60 days and 61–90 days. Separate indicators were created for prior hospitalization, ED, outpatient clinic, nursing home or long-term care facilities (LTCFs), psychiatric or substance-abuse facility or other outpatient facility. We also included an indicator for prior exposure to a family member with CDI and prior outpatient antibiotics. Results: Estimates for selected variables (odds ratios) are presented in Table 1. Prior hospitalization, ED visits, outpatient clinics, nursing home and LTCFs were all associated with increased risk of secondary diagnosed CDI. Prior hospitalization and nursing home/LTCF conveyed the greatest risk. In addition, a ‘dose-–response’ relationship occurred for each of these exposure settings, with exposure nearest the admission date having the largest risk. Prior exposure to psychiatric , substance abuse, or other outpatient facilities were not risk factors for CDI. Having a family member with prior CDI and both low-risk and high-risk outpatient antibiotics were associated with increased risk. These factors also exhibited a ‘dose–response’ pattern. Conclusions: Exposure to various healthcare settings significantly increased risk for secondary CDI. Prior healthcare exposures occurring nearest to the point of admission conveyed the greatest risk. These results suggest that many hospital-associated CDI cases attributed to a current hospital stay may actually be acquired from prior healthcare settings.

Funding: CDC Modeling Infectious Diseases (MInD) in Healthcare Network

Disclosures: None