Open AccessViral Co‐infections Are Common and Are Associated With Higher Bacterial Burden in Children With Clostridium difficile Infection
Author(s) -
Feghaly Rana E. El,
Stauber Jennifer L.,
Tarr Phillip I.,
Haslam David B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0b013e3182a3202f
Subject(s) - clostridium difficile , medicine , diarrhea , c difficile , concomitant , cohort , virology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , antibiotics , biology
Clostridium difficile infections in children are increasing. In this cohort study, we enrolled 62 children with diarrhea and C difficile. We performed polymerase chain reaction assays to detect viral agents of gastroenteritis and quantify C difficile burden. Fifteen (24%) children diagnosed as having C difficile infection had a concomitant viral co‐infection. These patients tended to be younger and had a higher C difficile bacterial burden than children with no viral co‐infections (median difference = 565,957 cfu/mL; P = 0.011), but were clinically indistinguishable. The contribution of viral co‐infection to C difficile disease in children warrants future investigation.