Clostridium Difficile Infection In Children Research Articles

Epidemiologic and Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Severe Community-Acquired Clostridium Difficile Infection in Children.

Although children most frequently suffer from milder forms of community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection, severe cases and fatal outcomes have been recorded. In this study we identified older children (>12 years of age) and patients who had surgery up to 6 months before Clostridium difficile infection onset as a subgroup at somewhat higher risk for severe community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection.

The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection in children with and without inflammatory bowel diseases: A single-center study in Taiwan from 2006 to 2019

BackgroundThe incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasing around the world, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of obtaining CDI. The data on the incidence rate of CDI in the Asian pediatric IBD population was lacking. MethodsWe retrospectively collected data from a tertiary medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. All patients aged 1–18 years old who visited the outpatient department or were admitted to our hospital between 2006 and 2019 were included. CDI was defined as positive stool C. difficile toxin or C. difficile culture results with appropriate antibiotic use within the range of 7 days prior or 14 days after the result. ResultsWe compared the average annual incidence of CDI before and after 2013. The average incidence of community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI) increased from 0.063 to 0.564 cases per 1,000 visits, with a rate ratio (RR) of 8.82 (95% CI 5.74-14.38). In patients with IBD, the rate increased from 26.738 to 278.873 cases per 1,000 visits (RR=10.12, 95% CI: 4.57-29.02). The average incidence rate increased from 0.685 to 1.874 cases per 1,000 admissions in pediatric general patients (RR = 2.72, 95% CI 1.82-4.20) and from 14.706 to 62.500 cases per 1,000 admissions in pediatric IBD patients (RR = 3.77, 95% CI 0.71-93.53). ConclusionsBoth CA-CDI and healthcare facility-onset CDI (HO-CDI) were increasing substantially in the pediatric population over the past decade in Taiwan. Compared to the general pediatric population, pediatric IBD patients had a much higher incidence of CDI.

Effects of fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection in children on kidney replacement therapy: a pilot study.

Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI) is a rising problem in children with chronic diseases. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a recent alternative for rCDI patients who do not respond to conventional treatment. FMT could have an additional positive effect on the intestinal dysbiosis and accumulation of uremic retention molecules (URM) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our aim was to investigate the clinical efficacy of FMT for rCDI in children with CKD together with the effect on dysbiosis and URM levels. We analyzed stool and blood samples before and until 3months after FMT in 3 children between 4 and 8years old with CKD and rCDI. The microbiome was analyzed by 16s rRNA sequencing. URM were analyzed with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. CRP and fecal calprotectin were analyzed as parameters for systemic and gut inflammation, respectively. CDI resolved after FMT in all three without adverse events; one patient needed a second FMT. No significant effect on CRP and calprotectin was observed. Stool samples demonstrated a reduced richness and bacterial diversity which did not improve after FMT. We did observe a trend in the decrease of specific URM up to 3months after FMT. FMT is an effective treatment for rCDI in patients with CKD. Analysis of the microbiome showed an important intestinal dysbiosis that, besides a significant reduction in Clostridium difficile, did not significantly change after FMT. A trend for reduction was seen in some of the measured URM after FMT.

Systematic Review: Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in Children

Background: Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI) continues to increase in incidence and severity around the world. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is commonly used to treat RCDI in adults, but its efficacy and safety in the pediatric population are infrequently studied. Here, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FMT for RCDI in children.Methods: Systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, Nature, Cochrane Library, and Springer to identify original studies in English language published from 2010-2020. The clinical resolution, bacterial resolution, and failure of therapy were calculated as indicators of efficacy of FMT. Adverse events were also calculated as indicators of FMT safety.Results: A total of 21 studies, with 498 pediatric patients were included in this review. There were 418/498 (84%) patients reported clinical and bacterial resolution. There were 67/498 (13%) patients who experienced FMT-related adverse events, with 97% of them had mild adverse event. There was one patient who reported FMT-related serious adverse events which were aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.Conclusion: We found evidence that supports the efficacy and safety of the use of FMT for treatment of recurrent C. difficile infection in children.

Пробиотическая терапия антибиотик-ассоциированной диареи у детей

Антибиотик-ассоциированная диарея (AAД) считается одним из самых распространенных осложнений антибиотикотерапии на амбулаторном и госпитальном этапах лечения у детей. Ведущими факторами риска развития AAД являются нарушение колонизационной резистентности кишечного микробиома или непосредственное раздражение антибиотиками (АБ) слизистой оболочки желудочно-кишечного тракта. Тяжелые формы AAД, известные как псевдомембранозный колит, ассоциированы с инфицированием Clostridium difficile, который является одним из лидеров в структуре нозокомиальных и внегоспитальных инфекций и характеризуется значительной резистентностью к медикаментозному лечению. Исследованы альтернативные стратегии лечения, а именно рассмотрены возможности адъювантной пробиотической терапии, которая может способствовать нормализации нарушенного вследствие воздействия АБ баланса индигенной микробиоты и быть целесообразной в профилактике развития и лечении AAД и Clostridium difficile-инфекции (CDI). Проведен обзор литературы по оценке клинической эффективности профилактики и лечения AAД и CDI пробиотическими препаратами и определенными пробиотическими штаммами. Поиск литературы осуществлялся с помощью электронных баз данных (Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Global Health, CyberLeninka, РИНЦ). Представлена общая характеристика пробиотических препаратов, рассмотрены механизмы действия пробиотиков и проанализированы основные эффекты влияния пробиотических штаммов. Систематизированы и проанализированы данные рандомизированных контролируемых исследований, представлены доказательства эффективности профилактики и лечения AAД и CDI с помощью пробиотических препаратов. Проанализированы штамм-специфические эффекты пробиотиков в профилактике и лечении AAД и CDI у детей. Рассмотрены индивидуальные свойства пробиотического штамма Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Представлена сравнительная характеристика доказательной базы целесообразности применения пробиотиков в определенных клинических ситуациях. Даны рекомендации по оценке возможности применения пробиотических штаммов и выбора конкретного штамма пробиотика для профилактики и лечения AAД и CDI у детей, получающих антибиотики.

Clostridium difficile infection and its susceptibility factors in children with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE To investigate the incidence rates of Clostridium difficile colonization and Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the susceptibility factors for CDI in children with IBD. METHODS A total of 62 children diagnosed with IBD were enrolled as the IBD group. Forty-two children who attended the hospital due to persistent or chronic diarrhea and were excluded from IBD were enrolled as the non-IBD group. The incidence rate of CDI was compared between the two groups. According to the presence or absence of CDI, the IBD group was subdivided into two groups:IBD+CDI (n=12) and non-CDI IBD (n=50), and the clinical data were collected from the two groups to analyze the susceptibility factors for CDI. RESULTS The IBD group had a significantly higher incidence rate of CDI[19% (12/62) vs 2% (1/42); P < 0.05] than the non-IBD group (P < 0.05). Compared with the non-CDI IBD group, the IBD+CDI group had a significantly longer disease course (P < 0.05), and a significantly higher proportion of children with fever, diarrhea, or abdominal pain (P < 0.05). The IBD+CDI group had significantly higher activity indices of pediatric Crohn's disease, C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate than the non-CDI IBD group (P < 0.05). The univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-CDI IBD group, the IBD+CDI group had a significantly higher proportion of children with moderate-to-severe disease, use of glucocorticoids, or treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics for more than 14 days before diagnosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The children with IBD have a higher incidence of CDI than those without IBD. Severe disease conditions and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics or glucocorticoids may be associated with an increased incidence of CDI in children with IBD.

Інфекція, спричинена Clostridium difficile, як важлива причина антибіотик-асоційованої діареї у дорослих та дітей

Інфекція, спричинена Clostridium difficile, як важлива причина антибіотик-асоційованої діареї у дорослих та дітей

Clostridium difficile Infection in Children: Epidemiology and Trend in a Swedish Tertiary Care Hospital.

Several studies have shown an increasing trend in pediatric Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). However, the Public Health Agency in Sweden reports a decreasing incidence of CDI in the Swedish population since 2007. The main aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiology of CDI in children. Retrospective chart-review of patients 1 to <19 years old, positive for Clostridium difficile toxin B, tested at Karolinska University Hospital Units, over the time period from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2018. Episodes were classified as recurrences (≥2 weeks, ≤8 weeks from previous episode) or new episodes (>8 weeks from previous episode). New episodes were classified as hospital- (HA-CDI) or community-associated (CA-CDI). Annual infection rates/100,000 children in the catchment area were calculated. Three hundred twenty-eight positive tests in 206 patients were included of which 259 (79.0%) tests were new episodes and 69 (21.0%) recurrences. In 63/206 (30.6%) children, >1 episode of CDI was recorded. The mean infection rate was 8.5/100,000 children. There was an overall increasing trend in CDI-rate July 2010-June 2018, however not statistically significant (P = 0.061) nor for the incidence in HA-CDI (P = 0.720) or CA-CDI (P = 0.179). Underlying medical conditions were present in 226/259 (87.3%) new episodes of which the most common was malignancy. Of the new episodes, 188/259 (72.6%) were HA-CDI and 46/259 (17.8%) were CA-CDI. There was an increasing trend in CDI in children in Sweden from 2010 to 2018, although not statistically significant. CDI was associated with comorbid conditions and repeated episodes were common.

Diagnosis and treatment of recurrent clostridium difficile infection in children

Clostridium difficile(CD), a gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobic bacillus, is a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea(AAD)worldwide.With the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the incidence of clostridium difficile infection in children is rising, while recurrent clostridium difficile infection(RCDI)requires prolonged treatment and higher medical costs.Malignancy, recent surgery and antibiotic exposures have been identified as the risk factors in children.While the toxigenic strains culture and the cell cytotoxicity neutralization assay are gold standard for the diagnosis, new diagnostic approaches such as nucleic acid amplification method have become available.The use of antibiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)or monoclonal antibodies are included in the current treatments for RCDI.This review will cover published studies to discuss the risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of RCDI in children. Key words: Recurrent clostridium difficile infection; Antibiotic-associated diarrhea; Children

Intensity of Therapy for Malignancy and Risk for Recurrent and Complicated Clostridium difficile Infection in Children.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is common in pediatric oncology patients and is often associated with recurrences and complications. We hypothesized that higher intensity of chemotherapy would be associated with these outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all cases of primary CDI in children with malignancy in our institution for over 7 years. Intensity of chemotherapy was measured by the Intensity of Treatment Rating Scale, third edition, ranging from level 1 (minimal) to 4 (highest). Outcomes included recurrence within both 56 and 180 days, CDI-associated complications, and primary treatment failure (PTF). Risk of recurrence was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression. Among 192 patients with CDI and malignancy, 122 met inclusion criteria. CDI recurred in 27% (31/115) of patients followed for 56 days and 46% (48/104) of patients followed for 180 days. Fourteen patients (11.4%) had a CDI-associated complication, including 4 intensive care unit admissions and 3 surgical procedures, but no deaths. Ten patients (8.2%) had PTF. Although PTF and severe complications were infrequent, recurrence was common in our cohort. None of these outcomes were associated with level of treatment intensity. More research is required to assess oncologic and nononcologic risk factors for CDI recurrence, PTF, and severe CDI-associated complications.

Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Clostridium difficile Infection in Children

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is commonly used to treat Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). CDI is an increasing cause of diarrheal illness in pediatric patients, but the effects of FMT have not been well studied in children. We performed a multi-center retrospective cohort study of pediatric and young adult patients to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and factors associated with a successful FMT for the treatment of CDI. We performed a retrospective study of 372 patients, 11 months to 23 years old, who underwent FMT at 18 pediatric centers, from February 1, 2004, to February 28, 2017; 2-month outcome data were available from 335 patients. Successful FMT was defined as no recurrence of CDI in the 2 months following FMT. We performed stepwise logistic regression to identify factors associated with successful FMT. Of 335 patients who underwent FMT and were followed for 2 months or more, 271 (81%) had a successful outcome following a single FMT and 86.6% had a successful outcome following a first or repeated FMT. Patients who received FMT with fresh donor stool (odds ratio [OR], 2.66; 95% CI, 1.39-5.08), underwent FMT via colonoscopy (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.26-4.61), did not have a feeding tube (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.05-4.11), or had 1 less episode of CDI before FMT (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.39) had increased odds for successful FMT. Seventeen patients (4.7%) had a severe adverse event during the 3-month follow-up period, including 10 hospitalizations. Based on the findings from a large multi-center retrospective cohort, FMT is effective and safe for the treatment of CDI in children and young adults. Further studies are required to optimize the timing and method of FMT for pediatric patients-factors associated with success differ from those of adult patients.

Risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection in pediatric inpatients: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

To summarize risk factors for Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) in hospitalized pediatric patients as determined by previous observational studies. Meta-analysis and systematic review. Studies evaluating risk factors for CDI in pediatric inpatients were eligible for inclusion. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE for subject headings and text words related to CDI and pediatrics from 1975 to 2017. Two of the investigators independently screened studies, extracted and compiled data, assessed study quality, and performed the meta-analysis. Of the 2,033 articles screened, 14 studies reporting 10,531,669 children met the inclusion criteria. Prior antibiotic exposure (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-3.52) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.07-1.64) were associated with an increased risk of CDI in children. Subgroup analyses using studies reporting only adjusted results suggested that prior antibiotic exposure is not a significant risk factor for CDI. H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) use (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.31-5.98) and that female gender (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.74-1.03) did not play a significant role as a risk factor for developing CDI. Prior antibiotic exposure appears to be an important risk factor for CDI based on the combined analysis but not significant using adjusted studies. PPI use was associated with an increased risk of CDI. Judicious and appropriate use of antibiotics and PPIs may help reduce the risk of CDI in this vulnerable population.

Analysis of Treatment Outcomes for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infections and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in a Pediatric Hospital

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common nosocomial infections in the United States, with an increasing incidence in children. Approximately 20% of pediatric patients develop recurrent infections. It's imperative to further analyze the incidence of recurrent CDI in the pediatric population and determine the most effective treatments. The primary goal of this study is to characterize children with recurrent CDI at our institution, including both hospital-acquired CDI (HA-CDI) and community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI) cases, summarize the various treatments utilized, including fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and compare their success rates. A retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients 1-21 years of age treated for CDI at a single institution from January 2010 to December 2014 was performed. There were 175 subjects with 215 separate episodes of CDI. Oral metronidazole was the most common initial treatment (145/207, 70%) followed by oral vancomycin (30/207, 15%), with recurrence rates of 30% (42/145) and 37% (11/30), respectively. Twenty-nine percent (63/215) of all initial CDI cases had at least 1 documented recurrence. Using multivariate analysis, subjects with HA-CDI were 2.6 times less likely to recur than those with CA-CDI (odds ratio: 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.18-0.85; P = 0.018). The overall success rate for FMT at our institution was 10/12 (83%). Our data show that cases of HA-CDI were less likely to recur compared with CA-CDI. Although currently reserved for multiply-recurrent cases, FMT was highly successful in our small cohort. More studies on FMT should be conducted to further evaluate its usefulness in the treatment of recurrent CDI in children.

Guideline for the Management of Clostridium Difficile Infection in Children and Adolescents With Cancer and Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Recipients.

PurposeThe aim of this work was to develop a clinical practice guideline for the prevention and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children and adolescents with cancer and pediatric hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) patients.MethodsAn international multidisciplinary panel of experts in pediatric oncology and infectious diseases with patient advocate representation was convened. We performed systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials for the prevention or treatment of CDI in any population and considered the directness of the evidence to children with cancer and pediatric HSCT patients. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach to generate recommendations.ResultsThe panel made strong recommendations to administer either oral metronidazole or oral vancomycin for the initial treatment of nonsevere CDI and oral vancomycin for the initial treatment of severe CDI. Fidaxomicin may be considered in the setting of recurrent CDI. The panel suggested that probiotics not be routinely used for the prevention of CDI, and that monoclonal antibodies and probiotics not be routinely used for the treatment of CDI. A strong recommendation to not use fecal microbiota transplantation was made in this population. We identified key knowledge gaps and suggested directions for future research.ConclusionWe present a guideline for the prevention and treatment of CDI in children and adolescents with cancer and pediatric HSCT patients. Future research should include randomized controlled trials that involve children with cancer and pediatric HSCT patients to improve the management of CDI in this population.

Incidence, course, and outcome of Clostridium difficile infection in children with hematological malignancies or undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infectious diarrhea in children during anticancer therapy or undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in Europe. Immunosuppression in these patients is a risk factor for CDI. Malignant diseases, age, acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), HLA mismatch, or use of total body irradiation may play an important role in CDI course. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, course, and outcome of CDI in children treated for malignancy or undergoing HSCT. Between 2012 and 2015, a total number of 1846 patients were treated for malignancy in Polish pediatric oncological centers (PHO group) and 342 underwent transplantation (HSCT group). In PHO group, episodes of CDI occurred in 210 patients (14%). The incidence of CDI was higher in patients with hematological malignancies in comparison to that with solid tumors. Patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia had shorter time to episode of CDI than those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients over 5 years and treated for acute leukemia had more severe clinical course of disease in PHO group. In HSCT group, CDI occurred in 29 (8%) patients. The incidence of CDI was higher in patients transplanted for acute leukemia. The recurrence rate was 14.7% in PHO and 20.7% in HSCT patients. CDI incidence was highest in patients with hematological malignancies. Most of patients experienced mild CDI. Age < 5 years and diagnosis other than acute leukemia were the positive prognostic factors influencing clinical CDI course.

2092 A multicenter study of fecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridium difficile infection in children

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and an increasingly common infection in children in both hospital and community settings. Between 20% and 30% of pediatric patients will have a recurrence of symptoms in the days to weeks following an initial infection. Multiple recurrences have been successfully treated with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), though the body of evidence in pediatric patients is limited primarily to case reports and case series. The goal of our study was to better understand practices, success, and safety of FMT in children as well as identify risk factors associated with a failed FMT in our pediatric patients. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This multicenter retrospective analysis included 373 patients who underwent FMT for CDI between January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2017 from 18 pediatric centers. Demographics, baseline characteristics, FMT practices, C. difficile outcomes, and post-FMT complications were collected through chart abstraction. Successful FMT was defined as no recurrence of CDI within 60 days after FMT. Of the 373 patients in the cohort, 342 had known outcome data at two months post-FMT and were included in the primary analysis evaluating risk factors for recurrence post-FMT. An additional six patients who underwent FMT for refractory CDI were excluded from the primary analysis. Unadjusted analysis was performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Pearson χ2 test, or Fisher exact test where appropriate. Stepwise logistic regression was utilized to determine independent predictors of success. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The median age of included patients was 10 years (IQR; 3.0, 15.0) and 50% of patients were female. The majority of the cohort was White (89.0%). Comorbidities included 120 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 14 patients who had undergone a solid organ or stem cell transplantation. Of the 336 patients with known outcomes at two months, 272 (81%) had a successful outcome. In the 64 (19%) patients that did have a recurrence, 35 underwent repeat FMT which was successful in 20 of the 35 (57%). The overall success rate of FMT in preventing further episodes of CDI in the cohort with known outcome data was 87%. Unadjusted predictors of a primary FMT response are summarized. Based on stepwise logistic regression modeling, the use of fresh stool, FMT delivery via colonoscopy, the lack of a feeding tube, and a lower number of CDI episodes before undergoing FMT were independently associated with a successful outcome. There were 20 adverse events in the cohort assessed to be related to FMT, 6 of which were felt to be severe. There were no deaths assessed to be related to FMT in the cohort. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The overall success of FMT in pediatric patients with recurrent or severe CDI is 81% after a single FMT. Children without a feeding tube, who receive an early FMT, FMT with fresh stool, or FMT via colonoscopy are less likely to have a recurrence of CDI in the 2 months following FMT. This is the first large study of FMT for CDI in a pediatric cohort. These findings, if confirmed by additional prospective studies, will support alterations in the practice of FMT in children.

C. difficile Infection in Children: What’s New?

The purpose of this review is to present the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection in children and to present a number of clinical challenges in diagnosis and therapy that are unique to the pediatric population. Current research has focused on novel methods of prevention and treatment of C. difficile infection in children. Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) for recurrent C. difficile is increasingly prescribed for children, and recent data includes comparisons of effectiveness and tolerability between methods of delivery. The incidence of C. difficile infection in children has risen in recent decades both in healthy children and those with underlying comorbidities. Antibiotic use, acid suppressive medication use, and the presence of enteric feeding tubes are well-documented risk factors. There is no standard method of testing for C. difficile infection in children, which complicates epidemiological tracking and detection of active disease versus asymptomatic colonization. First-line therapy for initial infection in children is metronidazole, while vancomycin may be reserved for those with severe infection or high risk of complications. Recurrence of infection is frequent, and while repeat courses of antibiotics may be effective, fecal microbial transplant should be considered a safe and efficacious alternative therapy.

Effect of Honey Supplementation on Clostridium Difficile Infection in Childhood Cancer

Background: the treatment of cancer is associated with nausea and vomiting, oral mucositis, constipation, xerostomia and diarrhea and weight loss, additionally; chemotherapeutic agents promote inflammatory changes in the gut, intestinal necrosis, and anaerobic conditions, allowing proliferation of Clostridium Difficile. Honey, as a natural honeybee product, has antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anticancer effects. Honey can fight microbial infection by its immuno-activating, anti-inflammatory and prebiotic activity. Objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of honey supplementation on frequency of Clostridium Difficile infection (CDI) and gastrointestinal complications in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy. Design: a cross sectional study conducted on 40 patients with malignancy recruited from Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University, Oncology Unit and Clinic, Cairo, Egypt in the period from December 2015 to December 2016. Patients were divided into two groups; group I (25 patients) received honey in the dose of 2gm/kg 3 times dailyfor 1month) while group II (15 patients) did not receive honey. All the studied patients were subjected to medical history and clinical examination, with special emphasis on gastrointestinal complication including oral mucositis, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. Follow up was done for weight, height z score, gastrointestinal complications and any adverse events. Stool analysis, culture, C difficle toxin A, B by ELISA was done to all patients at baseline and repeated to patients receiving honey at week 4 of supplementation. Main outcome measure frequency of CDI, gastrointestinal complication, febrile neutropenia . Results: the frequency of C difficle was 8% (2), the first case was 9 years old patient with ALL (50%) and the other 11 years old patient with Burkitts lymphoma both were diagnosed by positive stool culture and positive stool ELISA for toxin A, B. gastrointestinal complications were significantly less and improved in the supplemented group and mean of hemoglobin significant increase in group 1. Conclusion: the frequency of CDI in children with cancer 8% diagnosed by stool culture and toxin A, B study in stool. Honey improved the oral mucositis and different GIT complications associated with chemotherapy.

Community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection in Serbian pediatric population.

Carriage of Clostridium (C.) difficile in the intestinum of children, as well as its role in the disease (diarrhea) onset, is still controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) in Serbian pediatric population and to describe the basic clinical characteristics and risk factors for CA-CDI occurrence in Serbian pediatric population. The data obtained from 63 Serbian pediatric patients with CA-CDI and from control group of 126 children with community-acquired diarrhea, whose stool specimens were negative for C. difficile and toxins A/B, were mutually compared. In the current work, we found that children with CA-CDI display a significantly less severe disease clinical presentation than children with diarrheas of other origin. Lethal outcome was noted in two cases, but in children with severe underlying diseases (Crohn's disease and leukemia). By using the multivariate statistical regression model, the following statistically significant risk factors for community-acquired C. difficile-associated diarrhea development were determined: previous application of laxatives (OR = 0.199, CI 0.55-0.79, p = 0.015), general antibiotic use during the previous 2months (OR = 0.05, CI 0.02-0.17, p < 0.001), and specifically the use of penicillins (OR = 0.112, CI 0.04-0.31, p < 0.0001) and cephalosporins (OR = 0.16, CI 40.06-0.44, p < 0.0001). Antibiotics from the groups of cephalosporins and penicillins were found to be the most important independent risk factors. Laxative application plays a significant role in the community-acquired Clostridium difficile infections in children, with mechanisms that are not completely understood.

An Intragastric Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Program for Treatment of Recurrent Clostridium difficile in Children is Efficacious, Safe, and Inexpensive

To assess the safety, efficacy, and relative expense of a nurse-led fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) program for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Retrospective cohort study design in children aged 1-18 years with recurrent CDI. The intervention was an intragastric FMT with stool derived from a donor stool bank. Primary outcome was resolution of diarrhea at 3 months post-transplantation. A secondary analysis compared charge data associated with FMT by intragastric delivery vs administration by colonoscopy or nasoduodenal tube. A total of 47 intragastric FMT procedures were performed in 42 children (median age 9 years) with recurrent CDI. Response to treatment varied by disease status, with 94% success in previously healthy children, 75% in medically complex children, and 54% in children with inflammatory bowel disease (P = .04). FMT via intragastric delivery showed lower facility and professional charges by 85% and 78% compared with delivery via colonoscopy and radiology-placed nasoduodenal tube, respectively. The use of stool derived from a donor stool bank decreased charges by 49% compared with charges associated with the use of a donor who was a relative. A nurse-led intragastric FMT procedure using stool derived from a donor stool bank is a relatively inexpensive and efficacious treatment for recurrent CDI in children. Intragastric FMT success in children was attenuated by the presence of underlying disease, particularly inflammatory bowel disease.