Julia Shaklee Sammons

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Clostridium difficile Infection in Adults and Children: 2017 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)

A panel of experts was convened by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) to update the 2010 clinical practice guideline on Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults. The update, which has incorporated recommendations for children (following the adult recommendations for epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment), includes significant changes in the management of this infection and reflects the evolving controversy over best methods for diagnosis. Clostridium difficile remains the most important cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea and has become the most commonly identified cause of healthcare-associated infection in adults in the United States. Moreover, C. difficile has established itself as an important community pathogen. Although the prevalence of the epidemic and virulent ribotype 027 strain has declined markedly along with overall CDI rates in parts of Europe, it remains one of the most commonly identified strains in the United States where it causes a sizable minority of CDIs, especially healthcare-associated CDIs. This guideline updates recommendations regarding epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, infection prevention, and environmental management.

Clostridium difficile Infection is associated with Increased Risk of Death and Prolonged Hospitalization in Children

BACKGROUND Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality among adults. However, outcomes are poorly defined among children. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed among hospitalized children at 41 childrens hospitals between January 2006 and August 2011. Patients with CDI (exposed) were matched 1:2 to patients without CDI (unexposed) based on the probability of developing CDI (propensity score derived from patient characteristics). Exposed subjects were stratified by C. difficile test date, suggestive of community-onset (CO) versus hospital-onset (HO) CDI. Outcomes were analyzed for matched subjects. RESULTS We identified 5107 exposed and 693 409 unexposed subjects. Median age was 6 years (interquartile range [IQR], 2-13 years) for exposed and 8 years (IQR, 3-14 years) for unexposed subjects. Of these, 4474 exposed were successfully matched to 8821 unexposed by propensity score. In-hospital mortality differed significantly (CDI, 1.43% vs matched unexposed, 0.66%; P < .001). Mortality rates were similar between CO-CDI and matched subjects. However, mortality rates were significantly greater among HO-CDI compared with matched unexposed (odds ratio, 6.73 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 3.77-12.02]). Mean differences in length of stay (LOS) and total cost were significant: 5.55 days (95% CI, 4.54-6.56 days) and

Clostridium difficile Infection in Children

18 900 (95% CI,

Reducing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: A Quality-Improvement Initiative

15 100-

Recent trends in the epidemiology and treatment of C. difficile infection in children.

22 700) for CO-CDI, and 21.60 days (95% CI, 19.29-23.90 days) and

Pitfalls in Diagnosis of Pediatric Clostridium difficile Infection

93 600 (95% CI,

Ventilator-Associated Events in Neonates and Children--A New Paradigm.

80 000-

Variation in Risk of Hospital-Onset Clostridium difficile Infection Across β-Lactam Antibiotics in Children With New-Onset Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

107 200) for HO-CDI. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric CDI is associated with increased mortality, longer LOS, and higher costs. These findings underscore the importance of antibiotic stewardship and infection control programs to prevent this disease in children.

Diagnosis and Management of Clostridium difficile Infection by Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physicians

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of health care-associated diarrhea among adults in the United States and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. During the past decade, the epidemiology of C difficile infection (CDI) has changed, including a rise in the rate and severity of infection related to the emergence of a hypervirulent strain as well as an increase in disease among outpatients in community settings. Although less is known about CDI among pediatric patients, C difficile is increasingly recognized as an important pathogen among children. In this review, we discuss recent updates in the incidence and epidemiology of CDI among children, including risk factors for infection, and highlight the importance of CDI in special populations of children, particularly those with inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. In addition, we review current knowledge in the areas of diagnosis and management of CDI among children and highlight future areas for research.

Risk factors for in-hospital mortality among a cohort of children with Clostridium difficile infection.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common health care–associated infections in the United States, yet little is known about the prevention and epidemiology of pediatric CAUTIs. METHODS: An observational study was conducted to assess the impact of a CAUTI quality improvement prevention bundle that included institution-wide standardization of and training on urinary catheter insertion and maintenance practices, daily review of catheter necessity, and rapid review of all CAUTIs. Poisson regression was used to determine the impact of the bundle on CAUTI rates. A retrospective cohort study was performed to describe the epidemiology of incident pediatric CAUTIs at a tertiary care children’s hospital over a 3-year period (June 2009 to June 2012). RESULTS: Implementation of the CAUTI prevention bundle was associated with a 50% reduction in the mean monthly CAUTI rate (95% confidence interval: −1.28 to −0.12; P = .02) from 5.41 to 2.49 per 1000 catheter-days. The median monthly catheter utilization ratio remained unchanged; ∼90% of patients had an indication for urinary catheterization. Forty-four patients experienced 57 CAUTIs over the study period. Most patients with CAUTIs were female (75%), received care in the pediatric or cardiac ICUs (70%), and had at least 1 complex chronic condition (98%). Nearly 90% of patients who developed a CAUTI had a recognized indication for initial catheter placement. CONCLUSIONS: CAUTI is a common pediatric health care–associated infection. Implementation of a prevention bundle can significantly reduce CAUTI rates in children.