[The incidence and clinical features of Clostridium difficile infection; single center study].

Background/aims: Clostridium difficile is the predominant cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Recently, the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) increases in Europe and North America. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the change of incidence and clinical features of CDI in Korea.

Methods: From January 2003 to December 2008, inpatients diagnosed with CDI in Seoul Paik hospital were enrolled. The diagnosis of CDI was made when patients complained diarrhea with any positive results in C. difficile toxin assay, stool culture, or endoscopy. The incidence, recurrence rate, and clinical features were compared between early period (2003-2005) and late period (2006-2008).

Results: The incidence of CDI was 21.73 cases per 10,000 admitted patients in early period group, and significantly increased to 71.71 cases per 10,000 admitted patients in late period group (p < 0.01). The hospital stay duration at the time of CDI diagnosis was shorter in late period group. Cephalosporin had the highest ratio as the causative antibiotics of CDI. However, there was no difference in recurrence rate between early and late period groups. Recurrence associated clinical factor was serum albumin level.

Conclusions: The incidence of CDI showed increasing tendency during recent 6 years. The awareness of increasing disease burden is the first step in control of CDI.