Comparative analysis and trends in liver transplant hospitalizations with Clostridium difficile infections: A 10-year national cross-sectional study

Abstract

Goals and background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in the United States. We aimed to determine comparative trends in inpatient outcomes of liver transplant (LT) patients based on CDI during hospitalizations. Methods: The national inpatient sample database was used to conduct the present retrospective study regarding CDI among the LT hospitalizations from 2009 to 2019. Primary outcomes included 10-year comparative trends of the length of stay (LOS) and mean inpatient charges (MIC). Secondary outcomes included comparative mortality and LT rejection trends. Results: There was a 14.05% decrease in CDI in LT hospitalizations over the study period (p =.05). The trend in LOS did not significantly vary (p =.9). MIC increased significantly over the last decade in LT hospitalizations with CDI (p