Characterization of Continued Antibacterial Therapy After Diagnosis of Hospital‐Onset <i><scp>C</scp>lostridium difficile</i> Infection: Implications for Antimicrobial Stewardship

Abstract

A majority of patients with CDI continued to receive antibacterial agents after their CDI diagnosis, although the interhospital range was large. Compared with patients who did not continue therapy, hospital length of study, mortality, and subsequent admissions among patients who continued their antibacterial therapy remained significantly higher after adjusting for confounders. The adverse outcomes associated with continued therapy likely reflect the severity of the underlying primary infection and/or a poorer response to CDI therapy, suggesting an opportunity for antimicrobial stewardship programs to make important contributions to patient care.