Clostridium difficile infections at Landspitali-1998-2008

Objective: To study the epidemiology and severity of C. difficile infections (CDI) at Landspitali over 11 year period, 1998-2008. Material and methods: CDI were identified by a positive toxin assay in stools from the database of the Department of Microbiology. Chart review was conducted on patients diagnosed in January and June each year during the study period, a total of 237 infections. Results: Overall, 1,861 of 11,968 submitted stool samples were positive for C. difficile toxin, representing 1,492 infections. The population-based incidence was 29% higher in the end than in the beginning of the period and was highest in the age group >80 years where it was 387 cases per 100,000 person-years. The incidence per 1,000 admissions and 10,000 hospital days increased by 71% and 102%, respectively. 47% of the infections were nosocomial. Most patients had history of antibiotic exposure prior to the infection and the most common symptom was diarrhea. Response to a single antibiotics course was good (93%). No patient required surgery due to colitis. Conclusion: The incidence of CDI was higher in 2008 than 11 years before. Most patients had well characterized risk factors for CDI. For most patients a single course of metronidazole treatment resolved the infection. Based on these data, the severity of CDI does not seem to be increasing in Iceland.