Related Experiment Video

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Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
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A Curiously Rare Case of Septic Shock From Clostridium difficile Colitis

Kirsten Virginia Loftus1, Paria Majd Wilson

  • 1From the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|July 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

A young child experienced septic shock from Clostridium difficile colitis without typical risk factors, suggesting a hypervirulent strain. Prompt treatment led to full recovery, emphasizing Clostridium difficile in severe illness diagnostics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea.
  • Traditional risk factors include antibiotic use, prolonged hospitalization, and advanced age.

Observation:

  • A previously healthy young child presented with severe symptoms of septic shock.
  • The child had no identifiable risk factors for Clostridium difficile.

Findings:

  • The patient was diagnosed with Clostridium difficile colitis.
  • The presentation suggested a potential hypervirulent strain of Clostridium difficile.
  • The child recovered fully after appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering Clostridium difficile colitis in the differential diagnosis of critically ill children.
  • The possibility of hypervirulent strains necessitates broader diagnostic considerations, even in the absence of typical risk factors.
  • Early recognition and treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes in severe Clostridium difficile infections.

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