Temporal change of risk factors in hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection using time-trend analysis

OBJECTIVE

Given recent changes in the epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and prevention efforts, we investigated temporal changes over a period of 11 years (2006-2016) in incidence and risk factors for CDI.

DESIGN

Retrospective matched case-control study.

SETTING/PATIENTS

Pediatric and adult inpatients (n = 694,849) discharged from 3 hospitals (tertiary and quaternary care, community, and pediatric) in a large, academic health center in New York City.

METHODS

Risk factors were identified in cases and controls matched by length of stay at a ratio of 1:4. A Cochran-Armitage or Mann-Kendall test was used to investigate trends of incidence and risk factors.

RESULTS

Of 694,849 inpatients, 6,038 (0.87%) had CDI: 44% of these cases were hospital acquired (HA-CDI) and 56% were community acquired (CA-CDI). We observed temporal downward trends in HA-CDI (-0.03% per year) and upward trends in CA-CDI (+0.04% per year). Over time, antibiotics were administered to more patients (+3% per year); the use of high-risk antibiotics declined (-1.2% per year); and antibiotic duration increased in patients with HA-CDI (+4.4% per year). Fewer proton-pump inhibitors and more histamine-2 blockers were used (-3.8% and +7.3% per year, respectively; all Ptrend <.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of HA-CDI decreased over time, CA-CDI simultaneously increased. Continued efforts to assure judicious use of antibiotics in inpatient and community settings is clearly vital. Measuring the actual the level of exposure of an antibiotic (incidence density) should be used for ongoing surveillance and assessment.

Association between Clostridium difficile infection and antimicrobial usage in a large group of English hospitals

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the association between the reduction in the number of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) cases reported by the English National Health Service (NHS) hospitals and concurrent antimicrobial use.

METHODS

A retrospective ecological study for January 2005 to December 2008 was conducted using data from 26 of the 29 NHS trusts (i.e. a trust manages one or more hospitals) located in the North West Strategic Health Authority of England. Antimicrobial use data, for patients of all ages, were provided by IMS Health, and CDI case data for patients aged ≥65 years were provided by the Health Protection Agency. Antimicrobial use was converted into defined daily doses (DDDs). The overall association between antimicrobial use and CDI for the trusts was investigated using multilevel models.

RESULTS

Our study shows a positive significant association between the CDI cases and the use of the following antimicrobials: ‘third-generation cephalosporins’ [11.62 CDI cases per 1000 DDDs; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5.92–17.31]; ‘fluoroquinolones’ (4.79 CDI cases per 1000 DDDs; 95% CI, 2.83–6.74); and ‘second-generation cephalosporins’ (4.25 CDI cases per 1000 DDDs; 95% CI, 1.66–6.83). The strength of this association was not significantly different (95% CI) among the antimicrobial groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the reduction in the number of CDI cases reported by the English NHS hospitals is associated with concurrent reductions in antimicrobial use. This means that the number of CDI cases over time decreased in a similar fashion to the usage of various antimicrobials.

The Relationship between Inpatient Fluoroquinolone Use and Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea

BACKGROUND:

Limited evidence suggests there may be a link between fluoroquinolone use and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), but such an association remains unclear due to conflicting data.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the relationship between inpatient fluoroquinolone use and CDAD; secondary objectives included the relationship between CDAD and fluoroquinolone selection, duration of therapy, and route of administration, as well as the association between fluoroquinolones and CDAD complications.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective, case-control study of adult inpatients diagnosed with CDAD during the period of July 2007-July 2008. In total, 174 case patients were matched on a 1:1 basis with controls. A thorough assessment of all inpatient antibiotic use was conducted, including regimens administered at our institution within the previous 8 weeks. Odds ratios were calculated using univariate logistic-regression analysis.

RESULTS:

Use of fluoroquinolones was not significantly different between patients with CDAD and matching controls (OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.09 to 2.10; p = 0.16). No relationship was found between CDAD and the individual fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin (OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.87 to 2.12; p = 0.18), levofloxacin (OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.62 to 2.22; p = 0.63), and moxifloxacin (OR 1.34; 95% CI 0.81 to 2.20; p = 0.25). Fluoroquinolone route of administration did not differ significantly between groups for patients receiving intravenous (OR 1.20; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.94; p = 0.46) or oral (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.44; p = 0.45) therapy. Complications from CDAD were not significantly increased by fluoroquinolone use (OR 1.37; 95% CI 0.72 to 2.61; p = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS:

Inpatient administration of fluoroquinolones was not associated with CDAD at our institution. Fluoroquinolone use in patients who developed CDAD was not related to higher incidences of CDAD-related complications.