TABLE 1.

Established and Emerging Risk Factors for Clostridium difficile Infection

Age >65 y

Previous hospitalization and prolonged length of hospital stay

Nursing home or long-term care facility residence

Contact with active carriers

Antibiotic exposure

Increased risk with prolonged use or multiple antibiotics

Consumption of processed meat

Previous gastrointestinal surgery or endoscopic procedure

Presence of comorbid conditions

Malignancy and chemotherapy

Cystic fibrosis

Diabetes mellitus

Liver cirrhosis

Chronic kidney disease

Inflammatory bowel disease

Immunosuppression, immunodeficiency, or human immunodeficiency virus

Malnutrition

Hypoalbuminemia

Use of proton pump inhibitors

Solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Presence of gastrostomy or jejunostomy tube