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Nosocomial outbreak ofClostridium difficile diarrhea in a pediatric service

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Abstract

An outbreak of nosocomial diarrhea that occurred in a pediatric orthopedic service between 1 December 1993 and 15 April 1994 is reported. A total of 37 patients (mean age, 9.6 years; range, 2 months-19.3 years) were involved in the outbreak, including six patients with bacteriologically documentedClostridium difficile infection. A multivariate analysis identified lincomycin treatment for at least three days as the only significant risk factor. Stool samples from four asymptomatic patients were also positive forClostridium difficile and its cytotoxins. Isolates from all patients belonged to serogroup C, were highly resistant to lincomycin, and exhibited the same restriction pattern by pulsedfield gel electrophoresis. The outbreak ended after treatment with lincomycin was discontinued and hygiene control measures were implemented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743, Paris Cedex 15, France

    A. Ferroni, B. Pron, E. Abachin, J. Larzul, P. Berche & J. -L. Gaillard

  2. Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique Infantile, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743, Paris Cedex 15, France

    J. Merckx & P. Rigault

  3. Service de Parasitologie, Hôpital Cochin, 75014, Paris, France

    T. Ancelle

  4. Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Saint Antoine, 75012, Paris, France

    F. Barbut

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  1. A. Ferroni
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  2. J. Merckx
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  3. T. Ancelle
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  4. B. Pron
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  5. E. Abachin
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  6. F. Barbut
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  7. J. Larzul
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  8. P. Rigault
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  9. P. Berche
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  10. J. -L. Gaillard
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Ferroni, A., Merckx, J., Ancelle, T. et al. Nosocomial outbreak ofClostridium difficile diarrhea in a pediatric service. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 16, 928–933 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01700562

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01700562

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