Highlights
- •We identified risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection in oncology patients.
- •Risk factors evaluated included demographic variables, cancer treatment, and antibiotic use.
- •Age, prior blood transfusion, and receipt of specific antibiotic classes were associated with Clostridium difficile infection.
- •Prior history of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) was a highly significant risk factor for CDI.
- •Hospitalized oncology patients may be particularly high risk for Clostridium difficile infection.
The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) among oncology inpatients is poorly understood. In multivariate analysis
we identified age, history of CDI, and prior receipt of cephalosporins, β-lactam/β-lactamase
inhibitors, metronidazole, and blood transfusion as risk factors associated with CDI.
Reducing broad-spectrum antibiotic use, particularly among older patients and those
with a CDI history and recent blood transfusions, may decrease CDI risk in this population.
Key Words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: June 07, 2016
Footnotes
Previous Presentation The data in the manuscript was presented in part as an abstract at ID Week 2015; October 9, 2015; San Diego, CA (abstract 931).
Conflicts of Interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
