Description

Dharmarajan et al identified risk factors for mortality in a patient with Clostridium difficile colitis. This can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in the Bronx.


 

Patient-related factors:

(1) history of cardiac disease

(2) elevated BUN (renal dysfunction vs dehydration)

(3) low serum albumin

 

Infection-related factors:

(1) duration of illness > 4 weeks

 

Therapy-related factors:

(1) treatment with clindamycin

(2) treatment with a penicillin antibiotic (risk not associated with cephalosporins)

(3) therapy with > 4 antibiotics

(4) therapy with antibiotics for > 4 weeks

 

A patient with significant comorbidity and prolonged infection was at greatest risk for mortality in the study.

 


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