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Fidaxomicin for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile in children

Andrew M Skinner1, Tonya Scardina2, Larry K Kociolek2,3

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.

Future Microbiology
|July 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Fidaxomicin is now FDA-approved for treating Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) in children over six months. This antibiotic is effective and reduces recurrent CDI, similar to findings in adults.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant healthcare concern, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • Fidaxomicin, a narrow-spectrum macrocyclic antibiotic, received FDA approval for adult CDI treatment in 2011.
  • Recurrent CDI poses a challenge, necessitating effective treatment options with low recurrence rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fidaxomicin compared to vancomycin in pediatric patients with CDI.
  • To confirm if fidaxomicin's benefits in reducing recurrent CDI observed in adults extend to children.

Main Methods:

  • An investigator-blinded, randomized, multicenter, multinational clinical trial.
  • Comparison of fidaxomicin versus vancomycin for the treatment of CDI in children aged over six months.
  • Assessment of treatment efficacy and safety profiles in both treatment arms.

Main Results:

  • The clinical trial confirmed that fidaxomicin is as efficacious as vancomycin in treating CDI in children.
  • Fidaxomicin demonstrated a reduced risk of recurrent CDI in the pediatric population, mirroring adult study outcomes.
  • The safety profile of fidaxomicin in children was consistent with previously reported data.

Conclusions:

  • Fidaxomicin is the first FDA-approved antibiotic for treating CDI in children aged over six months.
  • Fidaxomicin offers a valuable therapeutic option for pediatric CDI, with comparable efficacy and reduced recurrence rates.
  • These findings support fidaxomicin as a key treatment for minimizing CDI recurrence in children.

Keywords:
C. difficileClostridioides difficileGram-positive bacteriaantibioticsfidaxomicingastrointestinal infectionsinfectioninfectious disease therapeuticspediatricspharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics

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