Table 1 Guideline definitions for CDI severity

Mild disease

Diarrhea as only symptom

Moderate disease

Symptoms apart from diarrhea not meeting the definition of severe or complicated CDI

Severe disease

Serum albumin < 30 g/l

or

Serum albumin < 30 g/l

and

Leukocytosis > 15,000/µlor

Leukocytosis > 15,000/μl

or

Leukocytosis > 15,000/μl

or

Creatinine > 1,5 × ULN

Creatinine > 1.5 × ULN

or

‘Clinical markers of severe colitis’ (i.e., fever, rigors, shock, respiratory failure, peritonitis, ascites, ileus, elevated serum lactate, pseudomembranes)

Abdominal Tenderness

Complicated disease

Hypotension / shock

or

Significant systemic toxin effects and shock with need for ICU admission, colectomy, or death

Admission to ICU, hypotension, fever > 38.5 °C, mental status changes, ileus or significant abdominal distension, serum lactate > 2.2 mmol/l, leukocytosis > 35,000/μl, signs of end-stage organ failure

Ileus, megacolon

Fulminant CDI

Not defined

Not defined

Not defined