Recent trends and risk factors associated with Clostridioides difficile infections in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Summary Background Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) are common among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and can mimic and exacerbate IBD flares, thus warranting appropriate testing during flares. Aims To examine recent trends in rates of CDI and associated risk factors in hospitalized IBD patients, which may better inform targeted interventions to mitigate the risk of infection. Methods This is a retrospective analysis using the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2020 of hospitalized individuals with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Longitudinal changes in rates of CDI were evaluated using International Classification of Diseases codes. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association between patient‐ and hospital‐related factors and CDI. Results There were 2,521,935 individuals with IBD who were hospitalized at least once during the study period. Rates of CDI in IBD‐related hospitalizations increased from 2010 to 2015 (CD: 1.64%–3.32%, p < 0.001; UC: 4.15%–5.81%, p < 0.001), followed by a steady decline from 2016 to 2020 (CD: 3.15%–2.27%, p < 0.001; UC: 5.04%–4.27%, p < 0.001). In multivariable models, CDI was associated with the Charlson–Deyo comorbidity index, public insurance, and hospital size. CDI was associated with increased mortality. Conclusions Rates of CDI among hospitalized patients with IBD had initially increased, but have declined since 2015. Increased comorbidity, large hospital size, public insurance, and urban teaching hospitals were associated with higher rates of CDI. CDI was associated with increased mortality in hospitalized patients with IBD. Continued vigilance, infection control, and treatment of CDI can help continue the trend of declining infection rates.