Epidemiological Features of Clostridioides difficile Infection During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, with a colossal use of antibiotics and immunity problems resulting from SARS-CoV-2, vigilance through C. difficile infections has increased and requires urgent action to address this problem. A retrospective study was carried out in one of the medical institutions in Chisinau municipality, in which the medical records of all adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with positive samples for CDI were analyzed between January 2020 and December 2023. As a result of the study, out of 106 patients diagnosed with CDI, 56% tested positive within 7 days of admission. We found that 71% (69/106) of the patients admitted with ICD were aged > 60 years, with female predominance. Analysis of antibiotic use among CDI positive cases showed that the majority were on vancomycin (89%) metronidazole (33%), amoxicillin (22%) and last resort antibiotic - colistin (19%). Infection caused by Clostridioides diffcile more commonly affects people after 60 years of age. Risk factors in the development of CDI, were found: hospitalization in the last 30 days, older age, female sex, COVID-19 infection, chemotherapies, hypertension etc. The incidence of the disease is observed more for the year 2021, being associated with empirical antibiotic treatments administered intensively during COVID-19.