Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile Infection (CDI) in children: diagnosis and management

Warning

Background

In adults Clostridioides difficile (C.difficile) is a common cause of hospital acquired diarrhoea.  In children the role of C.difficile is less well understood and in the majority likely represents gut colonisation. Recent studies however have shown that C.difficile is an emerging pathogen in the paediatric setting particularly in patient with underlying haemato-oncology and gastrointestinal disorders. Other risk factors include recent antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors and prolonged hospitalisation. 

Health Protection Scotland recommend testing for CDI in all symptomatic children aged 3 years or older. Testing of diarrhoeal stools from children under the age of 3 years should be at the clinicians request only.

Interpretation of results

In all cases, testing results must be carefully evaluated against the clinical background of the patient.

In GGC diagnostic labs test diarrhoeal samples for CDI in two stages. Firstly all diarrhoeal stool samples are tested using a sensitive screening test – GDH (glutamate dehydrogenase).

If the GDH test is negative the stool sample is reported as negative for CDI
If the GDH test is positive the lab proceeds to the second stage of testing which is toxin detection.

The interpretation of results is as follows;

Result

Interpretation

GDH negative

No CDI or colonisation

GDH positive, toxin negative

Colonised with C.difficile. Unlikely to require treatment. Send repeat samples if symptoms persist

GDH positive, toxin positive

CDI possible if case definition met

Case definition

GDH and toxin positive sample with diarrhoea and one or more of the following

  • Significant co morbidity – Gastrointestinal disease, haemato-oncological condition
  • Antibiotic use in the last 4 weeks
  • Severe GI disease with bloody diarrhoea and an unlikely alternative diagnosis.

Further investigation:

  • Send FBC , CRP and U+Es
  • Request imaging ( abdominal X-ray) if toxic megacolon or ileus is suspected
  • Test for clearance is not required

Severity scoring

Patients who meet the above case definition should undergo daily severity scoring as below and be managed accordingly

Criteria

Point

Diarrhoea > 5 times/day

1

Abdominal pain and discomfort

1

Rising white cell count

1

Raised CRP

1

Pyrexia > 38oC

1

Evidence of pseudomembranous colitis

2

Intensive care requirement

2

Score:

1-2 = Mild disease
3-4 = Moderate disease
≥5 = Severe disease

Medical management

  • Review all antibiotics. Where possible discontinue or switch to less C.diffogenic agents.
  • PPI /H2 antagonist use should be reviewed and if possible discontinued
Disease severity Severity score (points) Treatment
Mild 1-2 May not require treatment.
Consider pharmacological treatment if symptoms persist
Moderate / severe >3 Treat as per table below.
Re-assess daily.
For treatment failure seek urgent specialist advice
Life threatening Seek urgent specialist advice
Consider surgical intervention if evidence of caecal dilatation on imaging.

Treatment

All drug doses as per BNF for Children or Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)

Recurrent CDI following completion of treatment course

For first recurrence of CDI please follow the management advice below. If relapse/recurrence is severe/life threatening seek urgent specialist advice as above. For second recurrence discuss with an infection specialist.

Infection control precautions

Special considerations and administration guidance

Management in Primary Care:
Metronidazole may be prescribed in community if delays in supply of oral vancomycin would result in delayed initiation of treatment. Metronidazole should be substituted with oral vancomycin as soon as availability is resolved to complete a total of 10 days treatment. For patients who cannot swallow vancomycin capsules, fidaxomicin should be considered the first line option in community setting.

Fidaxomicin:
Fidaxomicin tablets are licensed in children weighing at least 12.5kg. Fidaxomicin granules for oral suspension (40mg/ml) became available in the UK in May 2022. For children weighing less than 12.5kg consider oral vancomycin PLUS IV metronidazole if granules unavailable and/or seek specialist advice.

Vancomycin:
Vancomycin injection can be used via the oral route in the hospital setting where capsules are not available or where the calculated dose cannot be administered using available capsule strengths. Guidance on administration is available below:

To administer vancomycin via an NGT;

  • Use vancomycin injection, 500mg vial.
  • Reconstitute a 500mg vial with 10ml water for injection to give a 50mg/ml solution.
  • Calculate the dose and withdraw the required amount from the vial. Discard the remainder of the vial.
  • Flush the enteral feeding tube with 15mls sterile water prior to administration. The dose can be further diluted with water for injection if required.
  • Administer the dose and flush with a further 15ml sterile water.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 24/08/2022

Next review date: 01/08/2025

Author(s): Susan Kafka.

Version: 3

Approved By: Antimicrobial Utilisation Committee

References
  1. Recommended protocol for testing for Clostridium difficile and subsequent culture. National Services Scotland , October 2016
  2. Pai S et al. Five years experience of Clostridium difficile infection in children at a UK tertiary hospital: proposed criteria for diagnosis and management. PLOS 2012;71-6
  3. ‘Guidance for the prevention and control of clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in health and social care settings in Scotland’; Scottish Health Protection Network; Guidance No 6. 2017 edition
  4. ‘Updated advice on antimicrobial management of Clostridioides Difficile (C.diff) Infection (CDI) in childre’; Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing
  5. ‘Clostridioides difficile infection: antimicrobial prescribing’; NG 199; NICE; 23rd July 2021
  6. ‘Safety and Efficacy of fidaxomicin and vancomycin in children and adolescents with clostridioides (clostridium) difficile infection: A Phase 3, multicenter, randomised single-blind clinical trial (SUNSHINE); Clinical Infectious Diseases 2020:71; (15th November 2020)