RESEARCH NEWS: Winnie Mutai et al publication on comorbidities and comorbidity measures in predicting healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection in Kenya

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Assessment of independent comorbidities and comorbidity measures in predicting healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection in Kenya

Winnie C Mutai and colleagues investigate comorbidity predictors of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI) in hospitalized patients. Winnie Mutai is a final year doctoral student who is supported by the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA). She is supervised by Dr. Marianne Mureithi, Prof Omu Anzala and Prof Gunturu Revathi (Aga Khan University Hospital)

Clostridioides difficile is primarily associated with hospital-acquired diarrhoea. The disease burden is aggravated in patients with comorbidities due to increased likelihood of polypharmacy, extended hospital stays and compromised immunity. The study aimed to investigate comorbidity predictors of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI) in hospitalized patients.

Mutai et al., performed a cross-sectional study of 333 patients who developed diarrhoea during hospitalization. The patients were tested for CDI. Data on demographics, admission information, medication exposure and comorbidities were collected.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, anemia, diabetes, and hypertension were shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing HO-CDI. The authors concluded that hospitals should capitalize on targeted preventive approaches in patients with these underlying conditions to reduce the risk of developing HO-CDI and limit potential exposure to other patients.