Most C. Diff Infections Start in Healthcare Facilities C.
difficile infections, mortality, and medical care costs "have
reached historic highs," says the CDC's report, published in
Tuesday's Vital Signs, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The agency says these outbreaks, marked by symptoms of excessive
diarrhea and sepsis are linked to 14,000 deaths in the U.S. each
year. From 2000 to 2009, the number of hospitalized patients
with a C. difficile discharge diagnosis more than doubled, form
approximately 139,000 to 336,000, and the number with a primary
diagnosis more than tripled from 33,000 to 111,000, the CDC
report said. Costs of care are an important element as well.
Just one hospital-onset case is estimated to cost between $5,042
to $7,179 in excess medical expenses. Across the nation,
treating C. difficile adds $897 million to $1.3 billion to
healthcare expenses, the report said. Transmission easily occurs
after someone touches an infected surface, and transfers C.
difficile spores to the mouth. A Dr