We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Clinical Characteristics of Symptomatic Clostridium difficile Infection in Children: Conditions as Infection Risks and Whether Probiotics Is Effective.
- Authors
Jae Yoon Na; Jong Mo Park; Kyung Suk Lee; Jung Oak Kang; Sung Hee Oh; Yong Joo Kim
- Abstract
Purpose: This study investigated the clinical presentations of symptomatic Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 43 children aged < 20 years who showed either positive C. difficile culture or C. difficile toxin test results between June 2010 and April 2014. Results: Of the 43 patients (mean age 6.7 years), 22 were boys. Sixteen patients (37.2%) showed both positive C. difficile culture and toxin test results. Seventeen out of 43 children (39.5%) had preexisting gastrointestinal diseases, and 26 children had other medical conditions that were risk factors for CDI. Twenty-eight children had a history of antibiotic treatment for > 3 days, and the most frequently prescribed antibiotic was amoxicillin-clavulanate (35.7%). Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with CDI despite taking probiotic supplements, most commonly Lactobacillus acidophilus (53.6%). The most common symptom was diarrhea (72.1%) at the time CDI was diagnosed. C. difficile was eradicated in 11 patients (25.6%) after treatment with oral metronidazole for 10-14 days, and in the two patients (4.6%) who required two courses of oral metronidazole. Sixteen patients (37.2%) showed clinical improvement without any treatment. Conclusion: This study showed the various clinical characteristics of CDI in children and that preexisting clinical conditions favored the development of CDI. In addition, CDI was found to occur in a number of patients even after probiotic prophylaxis given in conjunction with antibiotic therapy.
- Subjects
CLOSTRIDIOIDES difficile; LACTOBACILLUS acidophilus; THERAPEUTIC use of probiotics; GASTROINTESTINAL diseases; METRONIDAZOLE; DIARRHEA in children
- Publication
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, 2014, Vol 17, Issue 4, p232
- ISSN
2234-8646
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5223/pghn.2014.17.4.232