Prevalence and impact of Clostridium difficile infection in elderly residents of long-term care facilities, 2011: A nationwide study

Panayiotis D. Ziakas, Nina Joyce, Ioannis M. Zacharioudakis, Fainareti N. Zervou, Richard W. Besdine, Vincent Mor, Eleftherios Mylonakis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The elderly population is particularly vulnerable to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), but the epidemiology of CDI in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is unknown. We performed a retrospective cohort study and used US 2011 LTCF resident data from the Minimum Data Set 3.0 linked to Medicare claims. We extracted CDI cases based on International Classification of Diseases-9 coding, and compared residents with the diagnosis of CDI to those who did not have a CDI diagnosis during their LTCF stay. We estimated CDI prevalence rates and calculated 3-month mortality rates. The study population consisted of 2,190,613 admissions (median age 82 years; interquartile range 76-88; female to male ratio 2:1; >80% whites), 45,500 of whom had a CDI diagnosis. The nationwide CDI prevalence rate was 1.85 per 100 LTCF admissions (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.83-1.87). The CDI rate was lower in the South (1.54%; 95% CI 1.51-1.57) and higher in the Northeast (2.29%; 95% CI 2.25-2.33). Older age, white race, presence of a feeding tube, unhealed pressure ulcers, end-stage renal disease, cirrhosis, bowel incontinence, prior tracheostomy, chemotherapy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independently related to "high risk" for CDI. Residents with a CDI diagnosis were more likely to be admitted to an acute care hospital (40% vs 31%, P < 0.001) and less likely to be discharged to the community (46% vs 54%, P < 0.001) than those not reported with CDI during stay. Importantly, CDI was associated with higher mortality (24.7% vs 18.1%, P = 0.001). CDI is common among the elderly residents of LTCFs and is associated with significant increase in 3-month mortality. The prevalence is higher in the Northeast and risk stratification can be used in CDI prevention policies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere4187
JournalMedicine (United States)
Volume95
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2016

Keywords

  • C difficile
  • epidemiology
  • long-term care
  • mortality
  • nursing home
  • prevalence
  • risk factors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

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