C. difficile infection impact on LOS and mortality

• A. LOS increases nearly 3x and mortality nearly 4.5x
• B. LOS decreases and mortality increases
• C. No effect on LOS or mortality
• D. LOS increases five times and mortality two times

Answer: (A)

C. difficile infection in hospitalized patients markedly worsens outcomes, especially length of stay and risk of death. Compared with patients who do not have CDI, those with CDI tend to stay in the hospital about three times longer, and their risk of mortality is about four and a half times higher, though the exact numbers vary with severity, age, and comorbidities. This reflects the illness’s potential progression to severe colitis, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, sepsis, and the need for more intensive care, as well as the broader impact of infection control measures and treatment complexity. The magnitude described—nearly 3x longer LOS and nearly 4.5x higher mortality—best matches the observed pattern of CDI's substantial negative effect on inpatient outcomes.