Related Experiment Videos
Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in hospitalized children with acute diarrhea
1Division of Microbiology and Clinical Medicine, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta.
Insights
Clostridium difficile was found in 8.4% of children with acute diarrhea, with cytotoxin in 7%. This bacterium was more prevalent in infants under one year old, even without prior antibiotic use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Clostridium difficile is an opportunistic pathogen.
- Diarrhea is a common childhood illness.
- Understanding C. difficile prevalence in pediatric populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in children admitted to a pediatric hospital.
- To determine the association between C. difficile and acute diarrhea in children.
- To identify risk factors for C. difficile colonization in this age group.
Main Methods:
- Fecal samples were collected from 498 children (aged 0-14 years).
- Samples were tested for the presence of Clostridium difficile.
- In vitro cytotoxin assays were performed.
- Children were categorized into acute diarrhea and control groups.
Main Results:
- Clostridium difficile was detected in 8.4% of children with acute diarrhea and 3.1% of controls.
- Cytotoxin was demonstrated in 7% of diarrhea cases.
- C. difficile was the sole pathogen in 7.3% of acute diarrhea patients.
- Isolation rates were significantly higher in children under one year of age.
- No patients with C. difficile had a history of antibiotic therapy.
Conclusions:
- Clostridium difficile is present in a notable percentage of children with acute diarrhea in this setting.
- Infants under one year are particularly susceptible to C. difficile colonization.
- The study suggests C. difficile may play a role in pediatric diarrhea, even without a history of antibiotic use.
Abstract:
A total of 498 children, aged 0-14 years, admitted at the B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children, Calcutta, were investigated for the occurrence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin. Of the children in the investigation, 369 suffered from acute diarrhea. Only 8.4% of these children had C. difficile in fecal samples and in vitro cytotoxin was demonstrated in 7%. In 27 (7.3%) of the patients with acute diarrhea C. difficile was isolated as the only pathogen. In contrast, among 129 control children not suffering from acute diarrhea, only 4 (3.1%) harboured C. difficile. Isolation of C. difficile was significantly higher in children under one year of age. None of these patients had any history of prior antibiotic therapy.