Table 1 Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics between toxigenic Clostridioides difficile carriers and non-carriers at hospital admission in the derivation group

Age (years), median (IQR)

79 (73–85)

78 (72–84)

80 (74–85)

0.357

Male, n (%)

99 (49.0)

47 (46.5)

52 (51.5)

0.482

Admission route, n (%)

Emergency room

182 (90.1)

91 (90.1)

91 (90.1)

1.000

Outpatient clinic

20 (9.9)

10 (9.9)

10 (9.9)

1.000

History of CDI before admission, n (%)

3 (0.01)

0 (0)

3 (3.0)

-

Pre-admission route, n (%)

< 0.001

Home

104 (51.5)

66 (65.3)

38 (37.6)

< 0.001

Acute care hospital

38 (18.8)

16 (15.8)

22 (21.8)

0.280

Nursing hospital

44 (21.8)

11 (10.9)

33 (32.7)

< 0.001

Nursing facility

16 (7.9)

8 (7.9)

8 (7.9)

1.000

MDR acquisition during admission (%)

CRE

7 (3.5)

2 (2.0)

5 (5.0)

0.248

VRE

20 (9.9)

9 (8.9)

11 (10.9)

0.638

CRAB

29 (14.4)

7 (6.9)

22 (21.8)

0.003

CRPA

15 (7.4)

6 (5.9)

9 (8.9)

0.421

MRSA

42 (20.8)

15 (14.9)

27 (26.7)

0.037

Total MDROs

69 (34.2)

24 (23.8)

45 (44.6)

0.002

Infectious diseases at the time of admission, n (%)

Urinary tract infections

132 (65.3)

57 (56.4)

75 (74.3)

0.008

Pneumonia

95 (47)

39 (38.6)

56 (55.4)

0.017

Skin and soft tissue infections

16 (7.9)

9 (8.9)

7 (6.9)

0.602

Central nervous system infections

6 (3)

1 (1.0)

5 (5.0)

0.097

Bone and joint infections

17 (8.4)

3 (3.0)

14 (13.9)

0.005

Intra-abdominal infections

68 (33.7)

29 (28.7)

39 (38.6)

0.137

Septic shock

58 (28.7)

18 (17.8)

40 (39.6)

0.001

Comorbidities (%)

Cardiovascular diseases

157 (77.7)

79 (78.2)

78 (77.2)

0.866

Neurologic diseases

107 (52.9)

46 (45.5)

61 (60.4)

0.034

Malignant diseases

39 (19.3)

19 (18.8)

20 (19.8)

0.859

Trauma

26 (12.8)

11 (10.9)

15(14.9)

0.401

Chronic renal diseases

61 (30.1)

36 (35.6)

25 (24.8)

0.092

Chronic liver diseases

26 (12.8)

12 (11.9)

14 (13.9)

0.674

Chronic pulmonary diseases

63 (31.1)

23 (22.8)

40 (39.6)

0.010

Connective tissue diseases

9 (4.4)

1 (1.0)

8 (7.9)

0.017

Metabolic diseases

101 (5)

48 (47.5)

53 (52.5)

0.482

Hematologic diseases

145 (71.7)

60 (59.4)

85 (84.2)

< 0.001

Charlson’s comorbidity score, median (IQR)

3 (2–4)

4 (3–5)

2 (1–4)

< 0.001

Predisposing factors within 30 days, n (%)

Recent surgery

16 (7.9)

4 (4.0)

12 (11.9)

0.037

Recent admission

93 (46)

29 (28.7)

64 (63.4)

< 0.001

Use of corticosteroids

36 (17.8)

16 (15.8)

20 (19.8)

0.462

Use of antibiotics

97 (48)

30 (29.7)

67 (66.3)

< 0.001

Intensive care unit stay

35 (17.3)

13 (12.9)

32 (31.7)

0.001

Foley catheterization

85 (42)

29 (28.7)

56 (55.4)

< 0.001

Central venous catheterization

43 (21.2)

15 (14.9)

28 (27.7)

0.025

Nasogastric tube

61 (30.1)

21 (20.8)

40 (39.6)

0.004

Percutaneous drainage,

29 (14.3)

11 (10.9)

18 (17.8)

0.160

Mechanical ventilation

17 (8.4)

4 (4.0)

13 (12.9)

0.023

Tracheostomy

16 (7.9)

6 (5.9%)

10 (9.9%)

0.297

Hemodialysis

7 (3.4)

1 (1.0)

6 (5.9)

0.054

Bed-ridden status

78 (38.6)

28 (27.7)

50 (49.5)

0.001

Sore sites

67 (33.1)

21 (20.8)

46 (45.5)

< 0.001

Proton-pump inhibitors

95 (47)

31 (30.7)

64 (63.4)

< 0.001

Use of probiotics

80 (39.6)

21 (20.8)

59 (58.4)

< 0.001

Anemia (hemoglobin ≤ 10 g/dL)

131 (64.9)

29 (28.7%)

64 (63.4)

< 0.001

Length of hospital stay (days), median (IQR)

14 (9–24)

11 (7–18)

16 (10–28)

0.236

In-hospital mortality, n (%)

14 (6.9)

6 (5.9)

8 (7.9)

0.580