Clostridium difficile is no longer just a nosocomial infection or an infection of adults

Clostridium difficile is the main cause of nosocomial gastrointestinal disorders. Historically, C. difficile has usually affected older patients, hospital inpatients, and long-term care facility residents. Recent reports suggest that the occurrence and severity of C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is increasing in populations previously considered to be at low risk of the infection, and increasing numbers of community-acquired cases of CDAD are being reported. Risk factors for CDAD in paediatric patients include disruption of the normal micro. ora of the gastrointestinal tract (antibiotic-associated and non-antibiotic-associated), age, immune status, diet, underlying conditions, concurrent infections, and cancer. CDAD in populations previously thought to be at low risk is an emerging problem. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.