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Concordance of the SHEA-IDSA severity classification for Clostridium difficile infection and the ATLAS bedside scoring system in hospitalized adult patients

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Abstract

Purpose

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and Infectious Diseases Society of America (SHEA-IDSA) guidelines for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) recommend initial treatment of CDI based on disease severity. This severity definition has not been validated or evaluated based on clinical outcomes. The ATLAS scoring system is a validated tool useful in predicting treatment response and mortality in CDI. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the concordance of the ATLAS scoring system and the SHEA-IDSA staging for CDI severity.

Methods

This was a retrospective study which included hospitalized patients with confirmed CDI. Bivariate analyses compared baseline demographics and clinical information between patients with nonsevere and severe CDI based on the SHEA-IDSA criteria for CDI severity. Kappa scores were calculated to compare the concordance of the two scoring systems in defining CDI severity. Sensitivity and specificity of the ATLAS scoring system to determine CDI severity were calculated using the SHEA-IDSA criteria as the reference standard.

Results

Sixty-four patients met inclusion criteria. Of those, 62.5 % were classified as mild to moderate CDI, 25 % were severe, uncomplicated, and 12.5 % were severe, complicated based on SHEA-IDSA criteria. In the bivariate analyses, ATLAS score breakpoints of ≥4, ≥5, and ≥6 revealed moderate agreement with the SHEA-IDSA classification for severity. The sensitivities and specificities for ATLAS scores in predicting CDI severity ranged from 58.3 to 87.5, and 67.5–87.5 %, respectively.

Conclusion

The ATLAS score may be useful in evaluating CDI severity and determining drug therapy selection.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Hansen has received research and consulting support from Novartis and Daiichi Sankyo and has served as an expert witness for drug safety-related matters for Allergan and Boehringer Ingelheim.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    D. W. Mulherin

  2. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, 1321 Walker Building, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    A. M. Hutchison

  3. Pharmacy Department, Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, West Campus, 215 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery, AL, 36109, USA

    G. J. Thomas

  4. Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, 020 James E. Foy Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    R. A. Hansen

  5. Department of Pharmacy, East Alabama Medical Center, 2000 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, AL, 36801, USA

    D. T. Childress

Authors
  1. D. W. Mulherin
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  2. A. M. Hutchison
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  3. G. J. Thomas
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  4. R. A. Hansen
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  5. D. T. Childress
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Correspondence to D. W. Mulherin.

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Mulherin, D.W., Hutchison, A.M., Thomas, G.J. et al. Concordance of the SHEA-IDSA severity classification for Clostridium difficile infection and the ATLAS bedside scoring system in hospitalized adult patients. Infection 42, 999–1005 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-014-0671-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-014-0671-8

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