Former President Clinton hospitalized with infection in O.C.

Former President Clinton recovering from an infection, remains hospitalized in Orange County

Former President Clinton is shown seated in a living room.

Published Oct. 14, 2021 Updated Oct. 15, 2021 2:15 PM PT

Former President Clinton remains hospitalized in Orange County on Friday with an infection that is not linked to the coronavirus and is recovering, according to a spokesman and two of his physicians.

“He is on the mend, in good spirits, and is incredibly thankful to the doctors, nurses, and staff providing him with excellent care,” said spokesman Angel Ureña.

Clinton, 75, was in the region for a private reception and dinner for the nonprofit Clinton Foundation, an aide said, when on Tuesday after meeting with friends in Orange County, he reported feeling fatigued. He was admitted to UC Irvine Medical Center that evening. The former president had a urological infection that turned into a blood infection, as is common among the elderly, the aide said.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was not in California when her husband was hospitalized, but she flew here and attended the foundation event Thursday and then joined the former president afterward, according a person familiar with the former first lady’s schedule.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exits the UC Irvine Medical Center after visiting former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton’s vital measurements are stable. He is likely to be given intravenous antibiotics and fluids until Friday, when he is expected to receive oral medication, according to a source familiar with the situation. It’s unclear when he will be released.

“We hope to have him go home soon,” Drs. Alpesh Amin of UC Irvine and Lisa Bardack from New York said in a joint statement.

While speaking at a child-care center in Connecticut, President Biden said Clinton “seems to be, God willing, doing well” before talking to the former president by phone Friday afternoon.

“President Biden and President Clinton look forward to seeing each other again soon. President Biden wishes President Clinton a speedy recovery,” said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

The Clinton Foundation emailed members of the former president’s White House, staff and campaigns to assure them that Clinton was recovering well.

“We know that everyone is sending best wishes to the President, Secretary Clinton, and [their daughter] Chelsea and the rest of the Clinton family,” wrote foundation Executive Director Stephanie Streett and Chief Executive Kevin Thurm on Thursday evening.

Clinton has a history of health troubles: struggles with his weight and high cholesterol, a benign cyst removed from his chest in 1995 and a precancerous lesion removed from his nose the following year.

The onetime fan of McDonald’s turned near-vegan underwent successful quadruple coronary bypass surgery in 2004 when an angiogram revealed significant blockage in the major blood vessels leading to his heart after Clinton complained of chest pain and shortness of breath.

At the time, longtime Clinton confidant James Carville noted that Clinton would have to make major changes to his diet: “I’d suspect now that if he tries to order a burger and French fries on the road, someone will undoubtedly rat him out to Hillary and Chelsea.”

In 2010, Clinton had chest discomfort that resulted in the insertion of two stents into his arteries.

The former Arkansas governor served two terms in the White House from 1993 to 2001.