To assess whether risk for Clostridiodes difficile infection (CDI) is higher among older adults with cancer, we conducted a retrospective cohort study with a nested case-control analysis using population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data for 2011. Among 93,566 Medicare beneficiaries, incident CDI and odds for acquiring CDI were higher among patients with than without cancer. Specifically, risk was significantly higher for those who had liquid tumors and higher for those who had recently diagnosed solid tumors and distant metastasis. These findings were independent of prior healthcare-associated exposure. This population-based assessment can be used to identify targets for prevention of CDI.
Keywords: Clostridiodes difficile; Clostridium difficile; United States; age; bacteria; cancer; enteric infections; epidemiology; population.