Electronically Available Comorbid Conditions for Risk Prediction of Healthcare-Associated Clostridium difficile Infection

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2018 Mar;39(3):297-301. doi: 10.1017/ice.2018.10. Epub 2018 Feb 5.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To analyze whether electronically available comorbid conditions are risk factors for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-defined, hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) after controlling for antibiotic and gastric acid suppression therapy use. PATIENTS Patients aged ≥18 years admitted to the University of Maryland Medical Center between November 7, 2015, and May 31, 2017. METHODS Comorbid conditions were assessed using the Elixhauser comorbidity index. The Elixhauser comorbidity index and the comorbid condition components were calculated using the International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes extracted from electronic medical records. Bivariate associations between CDI and potential covariates for multivariable regression, including antibiotic use, gastric acid suppression therapy use, as well as comorbid conditions, were estimated using log binomial multivariable regression. RESULTS After controlling for antibiotic use, age, proton-pump inhibitor use, and histamine-blocker use, the Elixhauser comorbidity index was a significant risk factor for predicting CDI. There was an increased risk of 1.26 (95% CI, 1.19-1.32) of having CDI for each additional Elixhauser point added to the total Elixhauser score. CONCLUSIONS An increase in Elixhauser score is associated with CDI. Our study and other studies have shown that comorbid conditions are important risk factors for CDI. Electronically available comorbid conditions and scores like the Elixhauser index should be considered for risk-adjustment of CDC CDI rates. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:297-301.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Baltimore / epidemiology
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
  • Clostridioides difficile
  • Clostridium Infections / epidemiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity*
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Electronic Health Records
  • Female
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • International Classification of Diseases
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Adjustment / methods
  • Risk Factors
  • United States
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents