Risk factors for recurrent healthcare-facility associated Clostridioides difficile infection in a Swedish setting.

Objective: The objectives were to determine the risk factors for recurrent healthcare facility-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (HCF-CDI) in a high CDI incidence, low antibiotic use setting and to determine if length of cefotaxime exposure is a risk factor for recurrent HCF-CDI.

Methods: The risk factors for recurrent HCF-CDI were evaluated with a retrospective nested case control study based on chart reading. The risk factors were evaluated univariately and multivariately. Length of risk antibiotic exposure was evaluated further in a subanalysis.

Results: Risk factors for recurrent HCF-CDI were renal insufficiency (25.4% of cases compared to 15.4% of controls p = 0.006) and metronidazole treatment of initial CDI episode (88.4% compared to 71.7% p = 0.01). Exposure to cefotaxime and risk for recurrent CDI showed a dose-dependent relationship (linear by linear p = 0.028).

Conclusions: Renal insufficiency and metronidazole treatment were independent risk factors for recurrent HCF-CDI in our setting. The relationship between cefotaxime exposure and risk for recurrent HCF-CDI, dose-dependent, could be evaluated further in a setting with high cefotaxime use.