Intestinal inflammatory biomarkers and outcome in pediatric Clostridium difficile infections.
J Pediatr 2013;
163:1697-1704.e2. [PMID:
24011765 PMCID:
PMC4098967 DOI:
10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.07.029]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To identify specific fecal biomarkers for symptomatic Clostridium difficile infection and predictors of poor outcomes.
STUDY DESIGN
We enrolled 65 children with positive C difficile testing (cases) and 37 symptomatic controls. We also analyzed stool samples from colonized and non-colonized asymptomatic children. We performed enzyme immunoassays to determine fecal interleukin (IL)-8, lactoferrin, and phosphorylated-p38 protein concentrations, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to determine IL-8 and chemokine ligand (CXCL)-5 RNA relative transcript abundances, and C difficile bacterial burden.
RESULTS
Of 68 asymptomatic controls, 16 were colonized with C difficile. Phosphorylated-p38 was specific for C difficile infection but lacked sensitivity. Fecal cytokines were elevated in samples from symptomatic children, whether cases or controls. In children with C difficile infection, fecal CXCL-5 and IL-8 messenger RNA abundances at diagnosis correlated with persistent diarrhea after 5 days of C difficile infection therapy and with treatment with vancomycin. When children with concomitant viral gastroenteritis were excluded, these correlations persisted. Time-to-diarrhea resolution was significantly longer in patients with elevated fecal cytokines at diagnosis. A logistic regression model identified high CXCL-5 messenger RNA abundance as the only predictor of persistent diarrhea. Conversely, fecal C difficile bacterial burden was not different in symptomatic and asymptomatic children and did not correlate with any clinical outcome measure.
CONCLUSIONS
Fecal inflammatory cytokines may be useful in distinguishing C difficile colonization from disease and identifying children with C difficile infection likely to have prolonged diarrhea.
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