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Prevalence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in infants in Mexico
Insights
Clostridium difficile was found in similar amounts in infants, regardless of antibiotic use or diarrhea. However, active C. difficile toxins were rarely detected in infants without antibiotic exposure.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile is a significant cause of infectious diarrhea in infants.
- Antibiotic use is a known risk factor for C. difficile infection.
- Understanding C. difficile colonization and toxin activity in infants is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of Clostridium difficile colonization and its cytotoxic activity in infants.
- To investigate the relationship between antibiotic use, diarrhea, and C. difficile presence and toxin production.
- To compare C. difficile findings in different infant populations.
Main Methods:
- Fecal samples were collected from 122 infants under 1 year of age.
- Infants were categorized into groups: receiving antibiotics with/without diarrhea, diarrhea without antibiotics, and healthy controls.
- Isolation of C. difficile and detection of its cytotoxic activity were performed.
Main Results:
- C. difficile isolation rates were similar across groups (mean 23.4%), except in non-antibiotic-associated diarrhea (4.5%).
- Cytotoxin was detected in 7.6% of infants receiving antibiotics (with or without diarrhea).
- No cytotoxicity was found in infants with non-antibiotic-associated diarrhea; 4.5% of healthy infants showed positive cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic exposure in infants is associated with the presence of C. difficile cytotoxin.
- Non-antibiotic-associated diarrhea in infants is not linked to C. difficile cytotoxicity.
- C. difficile colonization is common in infants, but active toxin production is primarily associated with antibiotic use.
Abstract:
The incidence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxic activity were determined in the feces of 122 children under 1 year of age. Samples were obtained from children receiving antibiotics and with (52 cases) or without (26 cases) diarrhea, from children with diarrhea who did not receive antibiotics (22 cases), and from healthy children (22 cases). Isolation of C. difficile in feces from children in all groups was similar (mean 23.4%) except for the group with non-antibiotic-associated diarrhea (4.5%). In both groups of children receiving antibiotics, with or without diarrhea, the cytotoxin was detected in 7.6% of the cases. In the group with non-antibiotic-associated diarrhea, none of the samples was positive for cytotoxicity. In healthy children, cytotoxin was positive in 4.5% of the cases.