Cumulative Antibiotic Exposure Is Associated with Risk for C. difficile Infection

In a retrospective study among hospitalized patients, higher cumulative dose, number, and duration of antibiotics were independently associated with greater risk.

Antibiotic therapy is a major risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), but little is known about the effect of cumulative exposure. To explore this issue, researchers performed a retrospective cohort study involving adults who were hospitalized at a Rochester, New York, medical center in 2005 and received antibiotics for ≥2 consecutive days during their stay.

For each day of antibiotic exposure, the total dose of each agent was calculated. Daily doses were standardized according to the WHO Defined Daily Dose system. The number of different antibiotics and the duration of exposure were also calculated.

A total of 10,154 hospitalizations involving 7792 unique patients met study criteria. The incidence of CDI in this group was 4.3 …

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)