Henderson, ElizabethCrocker, Alysha2017-04-212017-04-2120172017Crocker, A. (2017). Clostridium difficile infection incidence and mortality in Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25336http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3709Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. It causes significant morbidity and mortality, manifesting in life threatening conditions such as pseudomembranous colitis. This study determined the incidence of CDI in Alberta, investigated risk factors associated with mortality amongst Alberta CDI patients, and investigated the inter-rater reliability between the Death Attribution Rules for Patients Infected by C. difficile (DARPIC) algorithm and IPC physicians. Incidence of CDI in Alberta hospitals, continuing care facilities, and the community provided a comprehensive understanding of CDI in Alberta. Although CDI is predominantly a nosocomial infection, 47% of the CDI cases identified in this study occurred in the community. Risk factors for mortality amongst hospitalized CDI patients were increasing age and comorbidity count, liver disease, and metastatic solid tumour. Attributing death to CDI is difficult and opinions vary by clinicians, to accurately and consistently report attributable CDI mortality a standardized approach is necessary.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Education--HealthEducation--SciencesBiostatisticsMicrobiologyEpidemiologyMedicine and SurgeryPublic HealthClostridium difficileC. difficile infectionAlbertaincidencemortalitydeathrisk factorsmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/25336