Further breakdown of the model (Additional file 1) revealed that the variables respiratory rate and serum albumin were significant predictors for both non-CDI related mortality (P = 0.007; OR 1.186 and P = 0.004; OR 0.844) and CDI related mortality (P = 0.003; OR 1.222 and P = 0.001; OR 0.801), whilst CRP (P = 0.020; OR 1.009) and WCC (P = 0.025; OR 1.046) remained specifically statistically significant for the group CDI related mortality. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is clostridium difficile infection.