Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI): A pan-European multi-center cost and resource utilization study, results from the Combatting Bacterial Resistance in Europe CDI (COMBACTE-CDI)

Objectives

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the leading nosocomial infections worldwide, resulting in a significant burden for healthcare systems. Pan-European data about cost and resource utilization of CDI treatment do not exist.

Methods

A retrospective analysis within the COMBACTE-CDI project was conducted based on resource costs for inpatient treatment and productivity costs. Country-specific cost values were converted to EURO referred to January 1^st 2019 values. Differences in price levels for healthcare services between the participating countries were adjusted by using an international approach of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. As the study focused on patients with recurrent CDI, the observed study population was categorized into (i) patients with CDI but without CDI recurrence (case group), (ii) patients with CDI recurrence (recurrence group), and (iii) patients without CDI (control group).

Results

Overall, 430 hospitalized patients from 12 European countries were included into the analysis between 07/2018 – 11/2018. Distribution of mean hospital length of stay and mean overall costs per patient between the case group, recurrence group, and control group were as follows: 22 days (95% CI: 17 – 27 days) vs. 55 days (95% CI: 17 – 94 days) vs. 26 days (95% CI: 22 – 31 days; P= 0.008) and €15,242 (95% CI: €10,593 – €19,891) vs. €52,024 (95% CI: €715 – €103,334) vs. €21,759 (95% CI: €16,484 – €27,035; P= 0.010), respectively. The CDI recurrence rate during the observational period was 18%. Change escalation in CDI medication (OR: 3.735) and treatment on an ICU (OR: 5.454) were found to be the most important variables associated with increased overall costs of patients with CDI.

Conclusions

Treatment of patients with recurrent CDI results in a significant burden. Prevention of CDI recurrences should be in focus of daily patient care to identify the most cost-effective treatment strategy.

doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.12.019