Investigation of Clostridium difficile ribotypes in symptomatic patients of a German pediatric oncology center

Conclusion: Under strict standard hygiene and contact isolation for symptomatic patients, genotyping of clinical isolates revealed that in pediatric cancer patients, CDI is not necessarily based on nosocomial transmission. The rate of CDI-related severe complications was low.What is Known:•Pediatric cancer patients face an increased risk of Clostridium difficile-associated disease due to immunosuppression, cancer chemotherapy, mucositis, and dysbiosis following intravenous broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment.•C. difficile may be transmitted from patient to patient.What is New:•Under strict standard hygiene and contact isolation for symptomatic patients, genotyping of clinical isolates revealed that in pediatric cancer patients, CDI is not necessarily based on nosocomial transmission.•The rate of CDI-related severe complications was low.
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research