1-in-5 C. diff patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, study finds

Patients hospitalized with Clostridium difficile infection experience high rates of 30-day readmission, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study of data from the 2013 Nationwide Readmissions Database. They examined patients with a primary diagnosis of C. diff and rehospitalization within 30 days.

Of 38,409 patients admitted to a hospital with a primary diagnosis of C. diff, 21 percent were readmitted within 30 days, which represents one-in-five C. diff patients. Of those readmitted within 30 days, 27 percent were readmitted with a primary diagnosis of C. diff. Infections accounted for 47 percent of all readmissions.

The following factors increased a patient's likelihood of being readmitted with C. diff:

• Female sex (12 percent)
• Anemia/coagulation defects (13 percent)
• Renal failure/electrolyte abnormalities (15 percent)
• Discharge to home (36 percent)

Copyright © 2025 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.


You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy
.
 

Articles We Think You'll Like