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Review
. 2023 Nov;25(11):316-322.
doi: 10.1007/s11894-023-00890-9. Epub 2023 Aug 30.

Clostridioides difficile Infection in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Seth A Reasoner  1 , Maribeth R Nicholson  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Clostridioides difficile Infection in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Seth A Reasoner et al. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of C. difficile infection (CDI) and experience worse outcomes associated with an infection. In this article, we review recent research on the incidence, diagnosis, complications, and treatment options for CDI in children with IBD.

Recent findings: Children with IBD have an elevated incidence of CDI, but their CDI risk does not associate with established risk factors in adults with IBD. Existing testing methodologies are inadequate at differentiating CDI from C. difficile colonization in children with IBD. Fecal microbiota transplantation offers a durable cure for recurrent CDI. CDI remains a frequent occurrence in children with IBD. Careful clinical monitoring should be used to diagnose CDI and patients with co-occurring IBD and CDI require careful surveillance for worse outcomes. Future research should explore the optimal diagnosis and treatment modalities in this unique patient population.

Keywords: Children; Clostridioides difficile; Crohn’s disease; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Ulcerative colitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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