Incidence, predictors, and 30-day outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients undergoing cystectomy: A national database analysis

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the second most common health care acquired infection (HAI) and the most common gastrointestinal HAI, with an estimated 365,200 cases reported by the center for disease control in 2017. CDI continues to remain a major cause of inpatient admission and utilization of health care resources. This study aimed to determine the true incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of CDI in patients undergoing cystectomy. We conducted an analysis of patients undergoing cystectomy between 2015 and 2017 using the American college of surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to study the incidence, risk factors, and 30 day postsurgical outcomes associated with CDI following cystectomy. Developed by the American College of Surgery, this is a nationally validated, risk adjusted, and outcomes based program designed to determine and improve the quality of surgical and postsurgical care. The incidence of CDI following cystectomy was 3.6% in our patient cohort. About 18.8% of patients developed CDI following hospital discharge. None elective surgeries and complete cystectomy procedures had a higher rate of CDI. About 48.4% of patients with CDI had a preceding postoperative infection. Postoperative organ space infections, postoperative renal failure, postoperative sepsis, and septic shock were independently associated with the development of CDI, (all P < 0.05). Patients who developed postoperative CDI during hospitalization had lengthier hospital admissions than those who did not develop a CDI and had a higher risk of deep venous thrombosis formation. A sizable number of patients experience CDIs after cystectomy procedures in the USA, and CDI development is associated with an increase in length of stay and unplanned readmissions. Interventions and initiatives are needed to reduce this burden of disease.