Table 1.

Risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection

Risk factor	Details
Antibiotics	Almost all antibiotics can increase vulnerability to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), but cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, clindamycin and certain penicillins (eg co-amoxiclav) increase risk to the greatest extent
Acid-suppressant medications	Both proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) and H2-receptor antagonists appear to increase risk (risk is increased with PPI especially)
Age	Rates are ten-fold higher in those of >65 years than in the younger population
Hospitalisation	•Recent hospitalisation, prolonged hospitalisation (>7 days), and/or prolonged antibiotic courses all increase risk of CDI •Being admitted to a room where the previous patient had CDI is itself a risk factor for infection
Immunosuppression