A hospital-based study of the clinical characteristics of Clostridium difficile infection in children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an increasingly important cause of morbidity in hospitalized children. We describe the recent epidemiology of pediatric CDI at a children's hospital, compare community-associated (CA) and hospital-associated (HA) infections and identify risk factors for severe disease.

Methods

Children with CDI at Texas Children's Hospital were identified from February 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. Severe CDI was defined as the presence of a CDI-related complication or ≥2 clinical features: fever, bloody stools, leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia or elevated creatinine. Standard epidemiologic definitions were used.

Results

One-hundred and nine unique patients 1-21 years of age with CDI were identified throughout the study period. The prop

SUBMITTER: Crews JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4217137 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature