Risk factors associated with complications and mortality in patients with Clostridium difficile infection.

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in frequency and severity over the past decade. An understanding of the modifiable risk factors for disease severity has considerable clinical applicability.

Methods: We performed a retrospective case review of 485 cases in patients aged 1-99 years at the Naval Medical Center San Diego from November 2004 through December 2008.