Trends in the incidence and outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection in hematological cancers: A nationwide analysis.

Abstract

e18244 Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has higher incidence in cancer patients. To characterize the extent of CDI burden among hematologic cancer patients, we used the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to report the incidence and outcomes of CDI. Methods: NHDS data from 2001-2010 were analyzed using diagnosis codes to identify patients with hematologic cancers and CDI. Demographics and discharge information were compared amongst hematologic cancer patients with and without CDI. Logistic regression models were runto estimate the impact of CDI on hematologic cancer patient outcomes, using STATA 12.0. Results: During the years 2001-2010, about 3.7 million patients (weighted data) were discharged with hematologic cancer. Among them, the incidence of CDI was 2.3%. Hematologic cancer patients with CDI were younger (mean age 66 vs 68 years), more likely to be men (66% vs 64.5%), to be of white race (68.1% vs 67.7%) and to have emergent admissions (73% vs 69%), all p values < 0.001. CDI incidence in these patients showed a steeper increase than non-cancer patients, with highest incidence in 2008-2009. Hematologic cancer patients with CDI had a longer mean Length of stay (16.9 vs 7.1 days; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 9.5, 95% CI 9.4-9.6), all cause hospital mortality (11.3% vs 6.3%; aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.88-1.97) and discharge to a care facility (28.4% vs 18.8%; aOR 2.06, 95% CI 2.02-2.10) compared to non-CDI cancer patients. Conclusions: CDI incidence is higher in patients with hematologic malignancy. They also have worse outcomes including overall mortality, longer hospitalizations and discharge to healthcare facility. These patients warrant closer screening and prompt treatment of CDI as they are at greater risk of unfavorable outcomes. [Table: see text]