Risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection
| Risk factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics | Almost all antibiotics can increase vulnerability to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), but cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, clindamycin and certain penicillins (eg co-amoxiclav) increase risk to the greatest extent |
| Acid-suppressant medications | Both proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) and H2-receptor antagonists appear to increase risk (risk is increased with PPI especially) |
| Age | Rates are ten-fold higher in those of >65 years than in the younger population |
| Hospitalisation | •Recent hospitalisation, prolonged hospitalisation (>7 days), and/or prolonged antibiotic courses all increase risk of CDI •Being admitted to a room where the previous patient had CDI is itself a risk factor for infection |
| Immunosuppression |