Tobacco use as a screener for Clostridium difficile infection outcomes

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the utility of self-reported tobacco use for developing a clinical prediction rule for poor outcomes of Clostridium difficile infection. Patients with any history of smoking were significantly less likely than never smokers to be cured of their infection within two weeks. Disease recurrence, readmission within 30 days, death before treatment completion, and the severity of Clostridium difficile infection were not associated with smoking status. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Healthcare Infection Society.