Patient selection: Clostridium difficile disease
Clinical findings not attributable to other cause:
(1) fever with temperature > 38.5°C
(2) rigors
(3) hemodynamic instability
(4) respiratory failure
(5) peritonitis
(6) colonic ileus
(7) pseudomembranous colitis on colonoscopy
Laboratory findings:
(1) leukocytosis with leukocyte count > 15,000 per µL
(2) marked left shift with percent bands > 20%
(3) rise in serum creatinine (ratio to baseline > 1.5)
(4) serum lactate >= 5 mmol/L
(5) serum albumin < 30 g/L
Imaging:
(1) colon transverse diameter > 6 cm
(2) thickening of colon wall
(3) pericolonic fat stranding
(4) ascites
