Pseudomembranous colitis by Clostridium difficile infection: a case report in pediatric patient

Abstract

Clostridium difficile is a bacillus Gram positive and spore form, anaerobic strictly, resistant to adverse conditions and transmitted by oral - fecal route, it was described by the first time in 1930, nevertheless it’s has been associated to disease in human beings in the decade of the seventies it identified as causal agent of pseudomembranous colitis. Its infection has related to diverse clinical manifestations such as diarrhea without complications, which lead to sepsis and inclusive the death. In the following clinical case we have a male infant 1 year old and 18 months patient, with precedents of hyperthermia and liquid depositions, after several days of antibiotics treatment, the symptoms increased with elimination of membranous rest in the faeces; reason why he is transferred to a hospital, in which the Clostridium difficile toxins test is realized, yielding positive results, therefore the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis is established metronidazole and vancomycin is given for 7 days having a favorable development. The use of antibiotics is a predisposing factor of pseudomembranous colitis for the affectation of the intestinal microbiota, in addition hospital stays and intrinsic factors. The literature describes a limited number of studies about this infection in pediatric patients, hence the importance of the case report

Keywords

• diarrea
• colitis pseudomembranosa
• Clostridium difficile