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. 2013 Dec;57(6):813-6.
doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3182a3202f.

Viral co-infections are common and are associated with higher bacterial burden in children with clostridium difficile infection

Rana E El Feghaly  1 , Jennifer L Stauber, Phillip I Tarr, David B Haslam
Affiliations

Viral co-infections are common and are associated with higher bacterial burden in children with clostridium difficile infection

Rana E El Feghaly et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

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.

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Figures

FIGURE
FIGURE. Bacterial burden in 15 children with C. difficile and viral co-infections compared to 47 children with C. difficile and no viral co-infections
A. Children with C. difficile and no viral co-infection (upward triangle) had a higher tcdB cycle threshold (CT) value than those with viral co-infections (downward triangle). B. Children with C. difficile and no viral co-infection (upward triangle) had a lower C. difficile concentration than those with viral co-infections (downward triangle). Each triangle represents an individual patient's value. Bars represent medians and interquartile ranges. *p value of the two-tailed Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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