ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus capable of producing diarrhea or colitis in the hospitalized patient, particularly in those exposed to the use of antibiotics, and 6% to 38% mortality in patients with C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been described. AIMS: To determine the hospital death rate in patients presenting with CDAD. As a secondary aim, hospital stay and risk factors for unfavorable outcome were recorded. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. The case records of hospitalized patients presenting with diarrhea and that tested positive for C. difficile through toxin A and B assays were reviewed. The number of non-surviving patients that presented with CDAD during hospitalization was recorded along with the principal factors associated with the worst outcome. RESULTS: Of the 66 patients enrolled in the study, 6 (9,1%) died during their hospitalization. The median age was lower in the group of surviving patients than in the group of non-surviving patients, with 51,5 years (range 36 to 66,75) and 81,5 years (range 69,5 to 83,25), respectively (p=0,002). Hospital stay was 32,50 days (range 8,25 to 64,25) in the group of non-surviving patients and was 6,5 days (range 4 to 15,75) (p=0,045) in the group with no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated mortality found in the hospitalized CDAD patients in the Intensive Care Unit makes the maintenance of strict surveillance in this population imperative so there can be opportune detection and treatment.
