Severe clinical outcome is uncommon in Clostridium difficile infection in children: a retrospective cohort study

Table 2 Outcomes of 299 children with C. difficile infection

Outcome	Total, n (%)	2 or more risk factors^†, n (%)	CDI treatment received, n (%)	Underlying diagnosis of IBD, n (%)	Underlying diagnosis of cancer/following BMT, n (%)
Discharged or resolution of symptoms	269 (90)	77 (29)	211 (71)	22 (8)	107 (40)
Ongoing diarrhea and/or treatment	28 (9)	12 (43)	27 (96)	9 (32)*	7 (25)
ICU admission	5 (2)	3 (60)	5 (100)	0 (0)	4 (80)
Death ^‡	1 (0.3)	1 (100)	1 (100)	0 (0)	1 (100)
Relapse	52 (17)	13 (25)	43 (83)	5 (10)	24 (21)

*Significant at p < 0.05. Children with IBD and CDI were more likely to have ongoing diarrhea compared to children without IBD by Chi-squared test. No other significant differences were identified.
^†Risk factors include fever >38°C, bloody stool, hypoalbuminemia ≤25 g/L, leukocytosis ≥15×10⁹/L, and renal dysfunction defined as creatinine above normal limits for age. There were no significant differences in outcomes (p > 0.05) in children with and without 2 or more risk factors.
^‡Death to which CDI contributed.
CDI = C. difficile infection; ICU = intensive care unit; IBD = inflammatory bowel disease; BMT = bone marrow transplant.

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