title: Recent trends in the epidemiology and treatment of C. difficile infection in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea among adults in Western countries, and is increasingly recognized as an important pathogen in children. This review provides an update on the changing epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) for pediatric providers and summarizes current knowledge regarding available therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of CDI has more than doubled among adults over the past decade, with a particular rise in incidence among patients presenting from the community. CDI has also increased among children in both inpatient and outpatient settings and there is growing evidence that specific populations of children may be at highest risk. Antibiotic-based therapies remain the mainstay of treatment for CDI, but new therapies have been developed with potential future applications in children. Use of nonantibiotic-based therapies is limited in children, but their use has been studied among adults with intractable or recurrent disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rise in incidence of CDI over the past decade warrants increased recognition by pediatric providers. Knowledge of the pediatric populations at highest risk for infection as well as the options for therapy will improve understanding of this changing disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Julia Shaklee
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sammons
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toltzis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents