Clostridium difficile colitis following geriatric hip fracture surgery: incidence, trends, and risk factors from 45,910 patients

PurposeClostridium difficile colitis is a serious complication in elderly patients undergoing surgery. The objectives of this study were: (1) to use a nationwide sample of patients to report the incidence and timing of C. difficile colitis in geriatric patients who underwent surgery for hip fractures, (2) to identify preoperative factors associated with developing C. difficile colitis and mortality.MethodsThis was a retrospective evaluation of the 2016-2019 ACS Targeted Hip Fracture database merged with the ACS-NSQIP database. Patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture were included. Outcomes studied were incidence, preoperative, and postoperative risk factors for occurrence of C. difficile infection and mortality. Chi-squared tests were used to compare demographics between the patients infected (study) and not infected (control). Logistic regression models were utilized to compute the odds ratios (OR) testing for the association of independent factors on developing C. difficile infection postoperatively and mortality. A statistical threshold was set at p < 0.008.ResultsThe incidence of C. difficile infection within 30 days of hip fracture surgery was 0.81%. Fifty percent of infections were diagnosed within 9 days postoperatively. Preoperative and hospital-associated factors associated with development of C. difficile infection were >= 2 days until operation (OR 1.88 [95% CI 1.39-2.55], p < 0.001) and dependent functional status (OR 1.43 [95% CI 1.14-1.79], p = 0.002). After adjusting for multiple comorbidities, increased age, male sex, COPD, CHF, dependent functional status, and C. difficile infection were associated with increased mortality within 30 days of surgery (all p < 0.001).ConclusionClostridium difficile colitis is a serious infection after hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients with an incidence of about 1%. Patients at increased risk should be targeted with preventative measures to prevent the morbidity from this complication.