Does accepted definition of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) severity predict poor outcomes in older adults?

Background Advanced age is an important factor affecting Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) risk and outcome. While fever and leukocytosis are prominent findings in young individuals with CDI, they are usually blunted in the elderly. Furthermore, chronic kidney disease often exists among this population prior to the CDI episode onset. Aim We aimed to examine whether the accepted definition of severe CDI (leukocytosis ≥ 15,000 cells/μl or serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl) predicts poor outcomes in the elderly. Methods All CDI hospitalized individuals between January-2013 and May-2020 were included. The study population was dichotomized into older group (≥ 65 years) and younger group (