Clostridioides difficile colonization among very young children in resource-limited settings.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To describe the epidemiology and risk factors for Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) colonization among young children in eight low-resource settings.

Methods

We tested 41 354 monthly non-diarrhoeal and diarrhoeal stools for C. difficile toxin genes (TcdA and TcdB) using quantitative PCR (qPCR) in 1715 children from birth to age two years in a multisite birth cohort study. We estimated the prevalence, cumulative incidence, and seasonality of C. difficile colonization and investigated the associations of C. difficile detection with risk factors of infection, markers of enteropathy, and growth.

Results

The prevalence of C. difficile detection was lower in diarrhoeal (2.2%; n = 151/6731) compared to non-diarrhoeal stools (6.1%; n = 2106/34 623). By 24 mon

SUBMITTER: Brennhofer SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9240321 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature