FCEM2-0656
A 68 year old male presents to the emergency department with a 4 day history of colicky abdominal pain and diarrhea. The patient reports feeling worse in the past 24 hours, although the diarrhea has stopped as he last had a bowel movement more than 12 hours ago. The patient visited his primary care physician 2 days ago, who requested a stool sample. The patient’s vital signs are as follows:
Temperature: 38.8ºC
Blood pressure: 98/78 mmHg
Pulse: 106 bpm
Respiration rate: 18
Upon reviewing the pathology results, it is noted that the stool sample has tested positive for clostridium difficile. Additionally, the patient’s complete blood count, which was sent by the triage nurse, is available and shown below:
Hemoglobin: 12.4 g/l
Platelets: 388 * 109/l
White blood cells: 23.7 * 109/l
How would you classify the severity of this patient’s clostridium difficile infection?