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Risk factors for the development of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized children

Waheeda Samady1, Alice Pong, Erin Fisher

  • 1aFeinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University bAnn and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois cDivision of Infectious Diseases, University of California dRady Children's Hospital eDivision of Hospital Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|July 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Recent antibiotic exposure and prolonged hospitalization are key risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children. While common, severe CDI outcomes are infrequent in this pediatric population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Epidemiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) epidemiology is evolving in both adult and pediatric populations.
  • Understanding current risk factors for pediatric CDI is crucial for effective prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define the primary risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in hospitalized children.
  • To review recent studies on pediatric CDI epidemiology and risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on pediatric Clostridium difficile infection.
  • Analysis of identified risk factors including antibiotic exposure, hospitalization duration, and comorbid conditions.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotic exposure within 4-12 weeks was a significant risk factor in most pediatric CDI cases.
  • Prolonged or past hospitalization increases risk due to potential C. difficile spore exposure.
  • Comorbidities like cancer and inflammatory bowel disease are strongly associated with pediatric CDI.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic use and hospitalization duration remain critical risk factors for pediatric CDI.
  • Children with malignancy or inflammatory bowel disease face elevated CDI risk.
  • Severe CDI outcomes and resistant infections are uncommon in pediatric patients.
Abstract

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