Ramifications and healthcare costs of Clostridioides difficile infections in hospitalized patients with solid tumors.

Abstract

e18801 Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is notorious for its perilous effect on frail patients, but its assault is even more so threatening on cancer patients as they are more prone to CDI due to damage to intestinal mucosa by chemotherapy agents and weak immune system, hence higher risk of getting affected from hospital-acquired infections. Here we analyze National inpatient sample database (NIS) of hospitalized patients with solid tumors to find out aftermath of CDI in this particular patient population. Methods: We used NIS database from year 2019 and recruited all patients admitted with C. diff colitis with underline solid tumors with or without metastatic disease. We used international classification of disease,10th revision (ICD-10) codes to identify these patients. Our outcomes of interest were all cause inpatient mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), sepsis, ICU admission, pressor use and hospital resource utilization including mean length of stay (LOS) and mean total charges. Using STATA 17, we performed the multivariate regression analysis. Results: A total of 15,161 (1.41%) hospitalizations due to principal diagnosis of C. diff Colitis were recorded in solid tumor patients in year 2019. Patients with history of solid tumors who were admitted with C. diff colitis had higher adjusted odds of all-cause in-hospital mortality (AOR 1.23, 95% CI1.08-1.41, P 0.002) compared to patients without underline solid tumor. These patients also had higher odds of sepsis (AOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.89-2.59, P < 0.001), AKI (AOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.73-2.10, P < 0.001), ICU admission (AOR 1.66, 95% CI 1.39-1.97, P < 0.001) and pressors use (AOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.38-2.40, P < 0.001). Patients with underline solid tumors who developed C. diff colitis had increased mean LOS (AOR 3.88, 95% CI 3.41-4.34, P < 0.001). These patients also incurred more hospital charges (Co-efficient 33836$, 95% CI 25907$-41766$, p < 0.001). [Table]. Conclusions: Patients with solid tumors admitted with CDI have an increased risk of sepsis, AKI, ICU admission and in-hospital mortality. They also have a significantly longer duration of hospital stay; hence higher cost of care. There is a dire need for awareness regarding strict contact precautions, hand hygiene, effective environmental cleaning, minimizing antibiotics use/adherence to antibiotic stewardship programs, using prophylactic vancomycin where indicated, avoidance of unnecessary hospital visits utilizing telehealth, etc. and aggressive management of CDI in patients admitted to hospital with solid tumors.[Table: see text]