title: Clostridium difficile cytotoxin in a pediatric population.
abstract: Assays for cytotoxin of Clostridium difficile were performed on stool samples submitted to the laboratory for routine microbiologic study. Cytotoxin was recovered from 8.6% of 208 pediatric patients studied. Cytotoxin was identified significantly more often in younger patients (median age, 11 months) and in those with hospital-associated illness (17%) and antibiotic-associated illness (18%). Hospitalization and antibiotic use were significant independent risk factors. Clinical diagnoses in patients with C difficile cytotoxin included classic pseudomembranous colitis, acute self-resolving diarrheal syndrome, chronic diarrhea with failure to thrive, infant botulism, and asymptomatic carriage.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003013:Clostridium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins