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[Clinic and epidemiologic description of Clostridium difficile infection in a pediatric population]

Andrea Maccioni, Jaime Cerda, Claudia Terrazas

    Revista Chilena De Infectologia : Organo Oficial De La Sociedad Chilena De Infectologia
    |December 4, 2015
    PubMed

    Insights

    Clostridium difficile infection (CDAD) is common in hospitalized children, often linked to risk factors like antibiotics. While mostly mild, further studies are needed to understand its role in young children.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
    • Microbiology
    • Epidemiology

    Background:

    • Clostridium difficile infection (CDAD) and its hypervirulent NAP1 strain are poorly understood in pediatric populations.
    • Characterizing CDAD in children is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe the clinical features of CDAD in hospitalized children.
    • To determine the frequency of the NAP1 strain and its association with disease severity in pediatric patients.

    Main Methods:

    • A descriptive, cross-sectional surveillance study of diarrheal episodes in Chilean children hospitalized between February 2012 and December 2013.
    • Molecular diagnosis was used to identify Clostridium difficile in stool samples.

    Main Results:

    • 66 episodes of Clostridium difficile were identified in children aged 1 month to 19 years; 39% were infants under one year old.
    • Nosocomial acquisition was predominant, with common risk factors including comorbidities (98.6%), antibiotic use (93.9%), and proton pump inhibitors (84.8%).
    • Most cases had a mild clinical course, though 12 had an unfavorable outcome, with 3 of 26 infants under one year experiencing this. Only one case was positive for NAP1 and presented with a mild course.

    Conclusions:

    • Clostridium difficile infection occurs across all pediatric age groups, including infants.
    • CDAD predominantly affects patients with significant risk factors and typically presents with mild symptoms.
    • Further analytical and longitudinal studies are necessary to elucidate the pathogenic role of Clostridium difficile in pediatric populations.
    Abstract

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