Figure 1.

Enrollment and observation timeline for a hypothetical patient in the cohort^∗. CDI = Clostridium difficile infection. Pathway for a hypothetical patient enrolled in the cohort. This patient's index hospitalization with an incident CDI begins on March 1 after 60 days of observation to establish appropriate Medicare enrollment and CDI-free period. Discharge occurs on hospital day 23, when the observation period for 30-day rehospitalization as well as a recurrence within 60 days commences. In this hypothetical patient, a recurrent CDI is noted on day 30 following index discharge. At this point, observation period for a 30-day rehospitalization and 60-day mortality begins. ^∗Each block signifies duration of the corresponding event (numbers inside are days).