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Clostridium difficile Infections in Children

Joo Hyun Gil, Jeong Wan Seo
The Ewha Medical Journal 2011;34(2):3-12. Published online: September 30, 2011

Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author (jwseo@ewha.ac.kr)

Copyright © 2011. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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  • During the past decade, rates of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) increased worldwide. Hypervirulent strains of C. difficile such as NAP1/BI/027 and PCR ribotype 078 have emerged that have changed the epidemiology of CDI. Especially, CDI rates also have increased in the community, in children previously thought to be at low risk. Recently, the use of gastric acid suppressant that facilitates intestinal transit of the bacteria and presence of inflammatory bowel disease has been reported as risk factors. Treatment for CDI usually relies on metronidazole or vancomycin, but recurrence rates remains high. New treatment options for multiple recurrence are challenging. In this article, we reviewed recent epidemiological changes, current knowledge of virulence factors, reasonable approach to the diagnosis, and optimal treatment of CDI. But, clinical guidelines for pediatric C. difficile disease have not been defined. It seems that the consensus and recommendations for managing pediatric CDI are urgently needed.
  • Keywords: Clostridium difficile; Child; Risk factors; Diagnosis; Therapeutics
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Fig. 1
A case of psedomembranous colitis in a 23-month-old girl presented with watery diarrhea and fever who had received broad spectrum antibiotics and steroid for the treatment of asthma. (A) Colonoscopic findings shows characteristic inflammatory membranous (pseudomembranous) nodules surrounded by hyperemia, edema and superficial erosion. (B) CT findings demonstrates wall thickening of nearly entire colon, associated with omental inflammatory infiltration and ascites. (C) Histopathologic findings shows inflammatory exudate erupts from the superficial degenerating crypts (mushroom-like configuration) and nonspecific infiltration of inflammatory cells on the mucosal layer.
emj-34-3-g001.jpg

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    • Incidence and Characteristics ofClostridioides difficileInfection in Children
      Heera Jeong, Ji-Man Kang, Jong Gyun Ahn
      Pediatric Infection & Vaccine.2020; 27(3): 158.     CrossRef

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    Ewha Med J. 2011;34(2):3-12.   Published online September 30, 2011
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2011.34.2.3
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    Clostridium difficile Infections in Children
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    DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2011.34.2.3
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    Clostridium difficile Infections in Children
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    Fig. 1 A case of psedomembranous colitis in a 23-month-old girl presented with watery diarrhea and fever who had received broad spectrum antibiotics and steroid for the treatment of asthma. (A) Colonoscopic findings shows characteristic inflammatory membranous (pseudomembranous) nodules surrounded by hyperemia, edema and superficial erosion. (B) CT findings demonstrates wall thickening of nearly entire colon, associated with omental inflammatory infiltration and ascites. (C) Histopathologic findings shows inflammatory exudate erupts from the superficial degenerating crypts (mushroom-like configuration) and nonspecific infiltration of inflammatory cells on the mucosal layer.

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    Clostridium difficile Infections in Children
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