| Abstract: | This study was a pilot investigation of risk factors for the development of Clostridium difficile toxin‐associated diarrhoea and in particular the differential influence of antimicrobial agents. The study was a retrospective case—control design conducted at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne. Cases were inpatients with stool positive C. difficile toxin diarrhoea and two controls were drawn for each case matched for age (+/?5 years) and type of admission (emergency or elective). Using conditional logistic regression analysis, cephalosporins and erythromycin were found to be statistically significantly associated with Clostridium difficile toxin associated‐diarrhoea. The results form the basis for designing a larger, prospective study. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
