Impact of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea on acute care length of stay, hospital costs, and readmission: A multicenter retrospective study of inpatients, 2009-2011.

•We used the Premier database to determine Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea burden on U.S. acute care hospitals.•Patients with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea had higher lengths of stay, intensive care unit admission, and inpatient mortality.•Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea also conferred higher adjusted costs and all-cause readmissions.•Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea-attributable costs and readmissions were also higher in high-risk subgroups.•Prevention of initial and recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea is essential to lessen burden to hospitals.