Patient Experiences with Clostridioides difficile Infection: Results of a Canada-Wide Survey

Figures & data

Table 1 Gender and Age Distribution, Data are Presented as Percent of Total Respondents

	n	%
Gender
Male	36	22
Female	129	77
Prefer not to say	2	1
Age
0–18	4	2
19–29	13	8
30–39	22	13
40–49	31	19
50–59	42	25
60–69	34	20
70–79	12	7
80–89	7	4
90–100	2	1
Median age	50–59

Figure 1 Medications and conditions prior to first CDI. (A) Distribution of participants that took antibiotics prior to diagnosis, and (B) health professional who prescribed the antibiotics. (C) Accompanying situations at the time of C. difficile infection and (D) concurrent gastrointestinal conditions.

Figure 2 Situations surrounding first C. difficile infection. (A) Exposure to health-care facilities and travel preceding development of first symptoms. (B) Length of hospital stay because of first C. difficile infection.

Figure 3 Symptoms and recurrence. Symptoms and complications experienced with CDI, (A) symptoms as percent of total responses and (B) number of symptoms experienced per individual as percent of total responses. (C) Recurrence of C. difficile infection compared to (D) reinfection with C. difficile and (E) number of C. difficile reinfections per respondent.

Figure 4 Diagnosis and treatment. (A) Time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis and (B) time between commencement of treatment and symptom resolution, or no resolution (NR). Antibiotic (abx), probiotic (pbx) or combination (abx+pbx) treatment used to overcome first (C) and any subsequent (D) C. difficile infections.

Table 2 Survey Qualifiers to Query Quality of Life Scores

Score	Qualifier
1	Able to carry on normal activity including work; no special care needed, social activities not restricted
2	Able to carry on with most normal activities and able to work, but social activities restricted
3	Able to carry on with most activities but unable to work
4	Some assistance needed with normal activities
5	Unable to care for self but able to stay at home
6	Unable to care for self and requiring institutional or hospital care

Figure 5 Impact of C. difficile infection on quality of life, data separated by (A) patient and (B) caregiver response. Data presented as violin plot of individual survey responses. Thickness of plot corresponds to number of responses whereas all responses are plotted.

Table 3 Emerging Themes and Distribution of Responses. Data Presented as Percentages of Respondents Who Answered to Open-Ended Questions (104 Total Responses) and Percentage of Themes

	n	%
Concerns about health care system	65	63%
Time to diagnosis	27	26%
Wrong initial diagnosis	5	5%
Speed and selection of treatment	10	10%
Faster referral to specialist	4	4%
Poor attitudes toward patient	6	6%
Insufficient prevention protocols	13	13%
Concerns about antibiotics	18	17%
Clindamycin	5	5%
Antibiotics in general	13	13%
Needs from health care providers	47	45%
Patient education	12	12%
Pro/Prebiotics	9	9%
Fecal transplant	3	3%
Alternative providers	2	2%
Importance of cure	9	9%
Ongoing bowel concern and recurrence	12	12%
Impact on life	51	49%
Severity of symptoms	12	12%
Complaints about treatments	6	6%
Change in daily habits	11	11%
Emotional impact on patient	12	12%
Emotional impact on Family/Caregiver	10	10%

Abbreviations: abx, antibiotic; C. difficile, Clostridioides difficile; CDI, Clostridioides difficile infection; NR, no resolution; pbx, probiotic