Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been recognized as the
leading cause of diarrhea worldwide. In the last five years, it has become
the leading cause of diarrhea in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina (CCV) as
well. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology and total cost
of treatment for all patients with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea
hospitalized at the Infectious Disease Clinic of the CCV; to analyze the
costs of treatment with regard to therapeutic approach; to compare the costs
of treatment in each year of the investigated period related to the number of
patients, and to analyze the outcome of treatment. The study was
retrospective, and the data were collected from the medical records of 472
patients with Clostridium difficile diarrhea treated from 2008 to 2012 and
analyzed. Of the total 472 patients with CDAD, 54.23% were female and the
average age was 65.84. A statistically significant majority of them had been
previously treated in other hospitals and a minority in ambulatory settings
(395 inpatients vs. 77 outpatients, p=0.000, p<0.05). Of the 395 previously
hospitalized patients, most were from the Clinic of Urology of the CCV (58,
14.68%). When comparing therapeutic options, oral vancomycin was
significantly more frequently used than other protocols. The average
mortality rate during the study period was 6.51%. In this period, total
hospital costs related to Clostridium difficile diarrhea in the Infectious
Disease Clinic were $636,679.92. Implementation of infection-control measures
and a restricted use of antibiotics would result in a great reduction in
material costs.
Rare Causes of Pleural Effusion in Children: Differential Diagnosis in a Pediatric Infectious Disease Clinic
