Abstract
C. difficile (CD) and its cytotoxin (C) has been demonstrated to be responsible for antimicrobial induced diarrhea (AID) and pseudomembranous colitis. We determined the incidence and manifestations of CD and C in 3 groups (Gp) of children with suspected acute or chronic AID (Gp 1), children with chronic diarrhea prior to antimicrobial therapy (Gp II) and control children without diarrhea (Gp III).
Antibiotics (n of patients) used in Gp I include: lincomycin (1), clindamycin (1), ampicillin (4), amoxicillin (1), in Gp II inciude penicillin (2), metronidazole (1), amoxicillin (2), ampicillin (2), Six of 6 patients in Gp I had mild proctocolitis confirmed by rectal biopsy without pseudomembranes on proctosigmoidoscopy. All 7 patients in Gp I became asymptomatic within 6 weeks of discontinuing antimicrobial therapy except 1 patient who received oral vancomycin (V) and became asymptomatic during V therapy but diarrhea recurred after V therany with stool culture + for CD and C for up to 6 months. Children may become chronic carriers of CD; the presence of CD and C can be used to distinguish acute/chronic colitis related to antimicrobial therapy from other causes of colitis in children.
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Berquist, W., George, W., Finegold, S. et al. 993 C. DIFFICILE RELATED COLITIS IN CHILDREN FOLLOWING ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPY. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 608 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01018
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01018