Original article / research
Year : 2024 Month : October Volume : 13 Issue : 4 Page : MO10 - MO14 Full Version

Prevalence and Clinical Features of Clostridioides difficile Infections among Inpatients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study from Southern India
Sherin Justin, Angela Fernandes, Meena Dias, Kavitha Prabhu, Beena Antony
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Father Muller College of Allied Health Sciences, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. 2. Intern, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Father Muller College of Allied Health Sciences, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. 3. Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. 5. Professor, Department of Microbiology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.
 
Correspondence Address :
Sherin Justin, Angela Fernandes, Meena Dias, Kavitha Prabhu, Beena Antony,
Dr. Sherin Justin,
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Father Muller College of Allied Health Sciences, Mangaluru-575002, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: sherinjarticle@gmail.com
 
ABSTRACT
: Introduction: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), once considered a nosocomial pathogen, is now increasingly being observed in the community. The organism is known to cause Antibiotic-associated Diarrhoea (AAD), Pseudomembranous Colitis (PMC), megacolon, and even death.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of C. difficile in stool samples and to associate the findings with the clinical presentation and risk factors of the patients.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analysed 208 stool samples received for C. difficile detection at Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India from January 2021 to January 2023 using the CerTest C. difficile Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)+ Toxin A+B onestep combo card test. The results were then associated with the clinical profiles of the patients retrieved from the hospital software, Backbone. Statistical analysis was performed using frequency, percentage, the Chi-square test, and the z-test.

Results: Out of the 208 samples analysed from patients belonging to all ages, 20 samples (9.62%) harboured toxigenic C. difficile, while 22 samples (10.58%) contained non toxigenic C. difficile. Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) use and underlying diseases/conditions were identified as highly significant risk factors (χ2=32.28, p-value<0.001, HS) among patients with toxigenic C. difficile. AAD was found to be statistically significant (p-value=0.030, Sig) in toxigenic patients compared to those with non toxigenic C. difficile.

Conclusion: The increasing presence of C. difficile in our community is a matter of concern. Continuous surveillance, vigilance, and appropriate preventive measures are crucial in mitigating the impact of C. difficile Infections (CDI) in hospitals and in the community.
Keywords : Antibiotic associated diarrhoea, Glutamate dehydrogenase, Nosocomial, Pseudomembranous colitis
DOI and Others : DOI: 10.7860/NJLM/2024/68313.2883 Date of Submission: Oct 27, 2023 Date of Peer Review: Feb 21, 2024 Date of Acceptance: May 28, 2024 Date of Publishing: Oct 01, 2024 AUTHOR DECLARATION: • Financial or Other Competing Interests: None • Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes • Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? No • For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. No PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHOD
 
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