Clinical differences in Clostridium difficile infection based on age: a multicenter study

Abstract

Advancing age is a well-known risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection

(CDI). However, age-specific clinical differences in CDI are uncertain. A

retrospective comparative analysis was performed based on age in 1367 patients

with CDI in Korea. Most clinical features were similar in the two age groups

studied, however malignancy was more common in the older group (age >/= 65 y) (p

< 0.001), while chemotherapy and transplantation were more common in the younger

group (age < 65 y) (p < 0.001). Endoscopic examinations were more commonly

performed in the older group (p = 0.010), which had a high positive predictive

value (88.3%). More patients recovered from CDI without specific antibiotic

treatment in the younger group than in the older group (p < 0.001). Although

advancing age is an important risk factor for CDI, the clinical features of

younger patients are similar to those of the older patient population.