Clostridioides difficile in Children.

Abstract

After a significant increase in pediatric Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in the United States over the past 2 decades, incidence has declined over the past 5 y. Community-associated CDI incidence is 3 times higher than healthcare facility-associated CDI in children, but sources of community acquisition are poorly defined. Diagnosis of CDI is challenging because of high frequency of colonization in infants and some groups of older children. Recent data suggest that vancomycin should be considered a first-line treatment for CDI in children and that fidaxomicin and fecal microbiota transplantation are safe and effective therapies for recurrent CDI.