A retrospective study will be carried out on all
charts of patients, who presented to the emergency department at AUBMC with the
chief complaint of diarrhea or abdominal symptoms, and who had a positive C.
diff infection by lab tests, during a three-year period spanning from December
1, 2012 and December 1, 2015. A chart review will also be done on all patients
who were admitted to AUBMC, and who had diarrhea/abdominal symptoms and
positive C. diff infection by lab tests within 48 hours of admission to the
hospital over the same three year period.
·· All patients older than 2 years, who had positive C. diff lab tests, and acquired C. diff outside the hospital, will be included in the study
·
All patients who presented to the ED with Diarrhea/Abdominal
symptoms during the study period (December 1, 2012 and December 1, 2015) and
had positive C. diff infection by lab tests.
For this group of patients, community acquired
C. diff is defined as the
onset of symptoms occurring while the patient was outside a healthcare facility
and the patient had not been discharged from a healthcare facility within 12
weeks before symptom onset.
·
All patients admitted to AUBMC during the study period (December 1, 2012 and
December 1, 2015), who had Diarrhea/Abdominal symptoms, and had positive
C. diff infection by lab tests within 48 hours of admission.
For this group of patients,
community acquired C. diff is defined the onset of symptoms occurring within
48 hours upon admission to a healthcare facility and the patient had no
prior stay in a healthcare facility within the 12 weeks prior to symptom onset.
·
Children less than 2 years will be excluded because
asymptomatic high carrier rates have been reported in children <2 years of
age
·
Patients who
acquired C. diff inside the hospital (48 hours after admission to the hospital)
·
Patients with
missing charts will be excluded from the study.