title: Clostridium difficile in children: a review of existing and recently uncovered evidence.
abstract: The clinical significance of the presence of Clostridium difficile in children's faeces remains uncertain using current diagnostic procedures. Clostridium difficile is a relatively common finding in infants with no symptoms of gastrointestinal disease, suggesting it may be an incidental finding and form part of the normal gut micro-flora in this age group. On the other hand, particularly in older children or those with significant co-morbidity, there are examples where C. difficile causes disease and exerts considerable morbidity and even mortality (C. difficile infection, CDI). Between these extremes lie a substantial group of children who have both diarrhoea and C. difficile in their stools but where the nature of the association is not clear: Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD). We review the significance of C. difficile in children presenting recently uncovered paediatric data from a large UK epidemiological study that informs some key unanswered questions.
authors: Academic Unit of Clinical & Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Southampton, UK. omorris@doctors.org.uk
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Morris
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Tebruegge
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Pallett
authors: Steve M
authors: SM
authors: Green
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Pearson
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Tuck
authors: Stuart C
authors: SC
authors: Clarke
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Roderick
authors: Saul N
authors: SN
authors: Faust
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans