Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
06:51

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291

Published on: December 10, 2016

[Clostridium difficile infection in children--experience of clinical centre in Bydgoszcz]

Karolina Duleba1, Ewa Smukalska, Małgorzata Pawłowska

  • 1Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych i Hepatologii Wieku Rozwojowego Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy, Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika. kikchzak@cm.umk.pl

Przeglad Epidemiologiczny
|June 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium difficile (CD) infections are a growing concern in children, often linked to antibiotic use and hospitalization. Early consideration of CD is crucial for prolonged or recurring diarrhea in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile (CD) is a significant cause of nosocomial infections in children and adults, with increasing community-associated cases.
  • Routine CD testing in children is limited due to high carriage rates, complicating diagnosis.
  • Understanding CDI in pediatric populations is essential for effective management and infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) among children presenting with diarrhea.
  • To analyze risk factors associated with CDI development in pediatric patients.
  • To compare the clinical course and treatment response based on bacterial toxigenic profiles.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of clinical records for 16 pediatric patients (9 months to 10 years) diagnosed with CDI.
  • Utilized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing (Xpert C.Difficile) for CD identification in stool samples.

Main Results:

  • CDI was diagnosed in 1.6% of children with diarrhea, equating to 8.9 cases per 1000 admissions.
  • All CDI cases in the study had a history of prior antibiotic exposure; 56% showed a correlation with hospitalization.
  • Toxin B-producing strains were identified in 62% of cases, while hypervirulent NAP1/B1/027 strains were found in 38%.

Conclusions:

  • CDI is a critical etiological factor for antibiotic-associated diarrhea in hospitalized children, particularly those with severe illness.
  • Community-acquired CDIs are also a concern and should be considered in pediatric cases.
  • Prolonged or relapsing diarrhea in children warrants consideration for CDI, regardless of prior antibiotic exposure.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection07:06

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection

Published on: December 8, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:30

Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

A healthcare provider can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) through several methods:Medical History and Symptoms: The provider will take a detailed medical history and ask about symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation during urination, and lower abdominal pain.Urinalysis: A clean-catch urine sample is collected in a sterile container and tested for the presence of bacteria, white blood cells (leukocytes), nitrites, blood, and protein. The presence of leukocytes and...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations01:20

Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major chronic disorders—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—each characterized by relapsing episodes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Although they share certain clinical features, their patterns of involvement and manifestations differ in ways that aid diagnosis and guide management.Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum and involves continuous inflammation of the mucosal layer. The disease course is marked...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...