Philadelphia-based Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania researchers conducted an analysis of a nationwide commercial health insurance database. The database included records of more than 40 million patients enrolled in private health plans.
Researchers considered C. diff infections as “multiple recurrent” when physicians treated the patients with three courses of antibiotics, with little time between each course.
The study shows the incidence of multiple recurring C. diff infections increased by 189 percent over the study period, whereas the incidence of C. diff infections rose by about 43 percent.
The patient characteristics for multiple recurring C. diff infections include:
● Being older
● Being female
● Having been exposed to medications such as corticosteroids, proton-pump inhibitors and antibiotics before contracting C. diff
The study authors noted the findings indicate multiple recurring C. diff infections place an increased burden on the healthcare system.
More articles on infection control:
Placenta consumption linked to serious bacterial infection in newborn
CDC: C. diff rates decline thanks to stewardship, thorough cleaning
How severe was the 2016-17 flu season? 7 key points
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