Predictors of Clostridium difficile infections in hospitalized children

Waheeda Samady*, Ruth Bush, Alice Pong, Allyson Andrews, Erin Stucky Fisher

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies report an increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) in children and suggest that CDIs may occur outside known populations at risk. OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical factors associated with CDI in a hospitalized pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted with C difficile cases (CD) and controls (CTLs) in hospitalized children over a 2-year period. CDs (N = 134) and 2:1 age-matched CTLs (N = 274) with diarrheal illness were evaluated. RESULTS: CDs and CTLs were similar in gender and race. Watery diarrhea was the most common type of diarrhea in CDs and CTLs. Immunodeficiency (46% vs 6%; P < 0.001), gastrointestinal (GI) disease (31% vs 18%; P = 0.005), and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use (22% vs 7%; P < 0.001) were more frequent in CDs. Of CDs, 30% were defined as community acquired. Bloody diarrhea was more frequent in community-acquired CD (28% vs 4% P < 0.001); however, other clinical variables were not statistically different. No antibiotic exposure, recent hospitalization, prolonged hospitalization, or past history of CDI existed in 8% of CDs. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that antibiotic use (odds ratio [OR]: 2.80, P = 0.001), recent hospitalization (OR: 2.33, P = 0.007), and immunodeficiency (OR: 6.02, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with cases when controlling for PPI use, having GI disease, and history of abdominal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical history is of greater value than symptoms in distinguishing CD, with immunodeficiency having the strongest association. An important percentage of CDs did not have any risk factors, confirming concerns that CDIs do occur in otherwise low-risk pediatric populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)94-98
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Hospital Medicine
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Fundamentals and skills
  • Care Planning
  • Assessment and Diagnosis
  • Health Policy
  • Leadership and Management
  • Internal Medicine

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