A case-control study of Clostridioides difficile symptomatic infections in a pediatric cancer hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze and identify documented infections and possible risk factors for Clostridioides difficile infections in children with cancer. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study, carried out in a pediatric cancer hospital, covering the years 2016-2019. Matching was performed by age and underlying disease, and for each case, the number of controls varied from 1 to 3. Logistic regression models were used to assess risk factors. RESULTS: We analyzed 63 cases of documented infection by C. difficile and 125 controls. Diarrhea was present in all cases, accompanied by fever higher than 38°C in 52.4% of the patients. Mortality was similar among cases (n=4; 6.3%) and controls (n=6; 4.8%; p=0.7). In all, 71% of patients in the case group and 53% in the control group received broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to the infection. For previous use of vancomycin, the Odds Ratio for C. difficile infection was 5.4 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 2.3-12.5); for meropenem, 4.41 (95%CI 2.1-9.2); and for cefepime, 2.6 (95%CI 1.3-5.1). For the antineoplastic agents, the Odds Ratio for carboplatin was 2.7 (95%CI 1.2-6.2), melphalan 9.04 (95%CI 1.9-42.3), busulfan 16.7 (95%CI 2.1-134.9), and asparaginase 8.97 (95%CI 1.9-42.9). CONCLUSIONS: C. difficile symptomatic infection in children with cancer was associated with previous hospitalization and the use of common antibiotics in cancer patients, such as vancomycin, meropenem, and cefepime, in the last 3 months. Chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, melphalan, busulfan, and asparaginase, were also risk factors.

A case-control study of Clostridioides difficile symptomatic infections in a pediatric cancer hospital / Um estudo caso-controle de infecções sintomáticas por Clostridioides difficile em um hospital oncológico pediátrico

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze and identify documented infections and possible risk factors for Clostridioides difficile infections in children with cancer. Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study, carried out in a pediatric cancer hospital, covering the years 2016-2019. Matching was performed by age and underlying disease, and for each case, the number of controls varied from 1 to 3. Logistic regression models were used to assess risk factors. Results: We analyzed 63 cases of documented infection by C. difficile and 125 controls. Diarrhea was present in all cases, accompanied by fever higher than 38°C in 52.4% of the patients. Mortality was similar among cases (n=4; 6.3%) and controls (n=6; 4.8%; p=0.7). In all, 71% of patients in the case group and 53% in the control group received broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to the infection. For previous use of vancomycin, the Odds Ratio for C. difficile infection was 5.4 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 2.3-12.5); for meropenem, 4.41 (95%CI 2.1-9.2); and for cefepime, 2.6 (95%CI 1.3-5.1). For the antineoplastic agents, the Odds Ratio for carboplatin was 2.7 (95%CI 1.2-6.2), melphalan 9.04 (95%CI 1.9-42.3), busulfan 16.7 (95%CI 2.1-134.9), and asparaginase 8.97 (95%CI 1.9-42.9). Conclusions: C. difficile symptomatic infection in children with cancer was associated with previous hospitalization and the use of common antibiotics in cancer patients, such as vancomycin, meropenem, and cefepime, in the last 3 months. Chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, melphalan, busulfan, and asparaginase, were also risk factors.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar e identificar infecções documentadas e possíveis fatores de risco para infecções por Clostridioides difficile em crianças com câncer. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo caso-controle em um hospital pediátrico oncológico, que abrangeu os anos de 2016-2019. O pareamento foi realizado por idade e doença de base e, para cada caso, o número de controles variou de um a três. Modelos de regressão logística foram utilizados para avaliar os fatores de risco. Resultados: Analisamos 63 casos de infecção documentados por C. difficile e 125 controles. A diarreia esteve presente em todos os casos, acompanhada de febre acima de 38°C em 52,4% dos pacientes. A mortalidade foi semelhante entre casos (n=4, 6,3%) e controles (n=6, 4,8%; p=0,7). No grupo caso, 71% dos pacientes e, no grupo controle, 53% deles receberam antibióticos de amplo espectro antes da infecção. Para uso prévio de vancomicina, a Odds Ratio para infecção por C. difficile foi de 5,4 (intervalo de confiança [IC95%] 2,3-12,5); para meropenem, 4,41 (IC95% 2,1-9,2) e, para cefepima, 2,6 (IC95% 1,3-5,1). Para os agentes antineoplásicos, a razão de chances para carboplatina foi de 2,7 (IC95% 1,2-6,2), para melfalano de 9,04 (IC95% 1,9-42,3), para bussulfano de 16,7 (IC95% 2,1-134,9) e, para asparaginase, de 8,97 (IC95% 1,9-42,9). Conclusões: A infecção sintomática por C. difficile em crianças com câncer associou-se à internação prévia e ao uso de antibióticos como vancomicina, meropenem e cefepime nos últimos três meses. Os quimioterápicos carboplatina, melfalano, bussulfano e asparaginase também foram fatores de risco.