Treatment of Clostridium difficile infection in pediatric patients.

Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol

Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Published: June 2015

AI Article Synopsis

  • Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) can be asymptomatic or cause illness, and the report discusses challenges and treatments specifically for pediatric patients.
  • Despite the rise in CDIs due to antibiotic misuse, they are relatively rare in children, as they are less susceptible to C. difficile toxins, and most cases are mild.
  • Treatment usually involves discontinuing antibiotics or using metronidazole, while severe cases may require vancomycin, but probiotics don't significantly help, and alternative options are considered only for critical situations.

Article Abstract

Clostridium difficile causes infections that can either remain asymptomatic or manifest as clinical disease. In this report, problems, possible solutions, and future perspectives on the treatment of C. difficile infections (CDIs) in pediatric patients are discussed. CDI, despite increasing as a consequence of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, remains relatively uncommon in pediatrics mainly because younger children are poorly susceptible to the action of C. difficile toxins. In most such cases, C. difficile disease is mild to moderate and discontinuation of the administered antibiotics in patients receiving these drugs when CDI develops, or administration of metronidazole, is sufficient to solve this problem. In severe or frequently relapsing cases, vancomycin is the drug of choice. Probiotics do not seem to add significant advantages. Other treatment options must be reserved for severe cases and be considered as a salvage treatment, although potential advantages in pediatric patients remain unclear.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/17474124.2015.1039988DOI Listing

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