Table 3.
Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Potential Sources of Clostridium difficile Acquisition Among Patients With Community-Associated C difficile Infection by Level of Outpatient Health Care Exposure, 2009 Through 2011a
| Outpatient Health Care Exposure |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | None (n = 177) | Low Level (n = 400) | High Level (n = 407) | P Valueb |
|
| ||||
| Age, median (range), y | 53 (1–93) | 48 (1–97) | 53 (1–94) | .01 |
| Female sex, No. (%) | 110 (62.1) | 267 (66.8) | 278 (68.3) | .34 |
| No medical conditions, No. (%) | 65 (36.7) | 190 (47.5) | 136 (33.4) | <.01 |
| Antibiotic use within 12 wk before infection, No. (%) | 77 (43.5) | 272 (68.0) | 282 (69.3) | <.01 |
| Proton pump inhibitor use, No. (%) | 43 (24.3) | 98 (24.5) | 132 (32.4) | .01 |
| H2-receptor antagonist use, No. (%) | 22 (12.4) | 30 (7.5) | 38 (9.3) | .16 |
| Household members, No. (%)c | ||||
| Infant younger than 1 y | 8 (4.5) | 24 (6.0) | 10 (2.5) | .04 |
| Children younger than 4 y in diapers | 27 (15.3) | 64 (16.0) | 42 (10.3) | .04 |
| Children younger than 4 y who attended child care settings | 12 (6.8) | 43 (10.8) | 26 (6.4) | .05 |
| Who had recent stay in a health care facility | 5 (2.8) | 27 (6.8) | 20 (4.9) | .13 |
| Whose job required direct contact with patients | 9 (5.1) | 29 (7.3) | 23 (5.7) | .50 |
| With active C difficile infection | 3 (1.7) | 7 (1.8) | 1 (0.2) | .05 |
| Food exposure, No. (%)c | ||||
| Chicken or poultry | 152 (85.9) | 356 (89.0) | 360 (88.5) | .55 |
| Beef | 125 (70.6) | 287 (71.8) | 295 (72.5) | .89 |
| Pork | 74 (41.8) | 181 (45.3) | 192 (47.2) | .48 |
| Lamb | 5 (2.8) | 14 (3.5) | 17 (4.2) | .70 |
| Animal exposure, No. (%)c | ||||
| Pet in the house | 76 (42.9) | 205 (51.3) | 193 (47.4) | .16 |
| Visited place where animals present | 15 (8.5) | 47 (11.8) | 50 (12.3) | .39 |
| Occupational exposure to animals | 5 (2.8) | 12 (3.0) | 7 (1.7) | .46 |
Antibiotic use, household members, and animal exposure were defined as an exposure within 12 weeks of the positive C difficile stool specimen. Food exposure was defined as food consumed during a typical week.
P values were determined for categorical variables by means of the Pearson χ2 or Fisher exact statistic and indicate significant differences in the proportion of patients exposed to household members, food, and animals by level of outpatient health care exposure. P values were determined for continuous variables by means of the Mood median test.
Exposures to household members, food, or animals are not mutually exclusive.