Isolation and Identification of Clostridium difficile and Other Clostridium Species Associated with Diarrheic Children and Their Susceptibility to Antimicrobial Agents

Abstract

Clostridiznn species is part of the intestinal indigenous microbiota of young children and they can produce several endogenous infections Closlridimn difficile frequently colonizes the "human large intestine when the normal colonic flora is disturbed by antibiotic therapy. The result of colonization may be asymptomatic, or it may lead to illness, ranging from mild diarrhea to pseudo-membranous colitis. C. difliqile is a major nosocomial pathogen, responsible for up to 20% of cases of antibiotic- associated diarrhea in industrialized countries, and is an emerging problem in developing countries. The study concerned 552 children, aged l5 days and 8 years. 351 fecal samples were taken from diarrheic children, and (201) were taken from non- diarrheic patient children carrier of C. difiicile who were at risk in whom CDAD may develop after using chemotherapeutic agents. Sixty-two isolates of Clostridizun spp. were characterized by colony morphology on several media, spore shape and position, biochemical tests and GLC technique. They identified as: Closrridium septicum 5 (8.1 %), C. bifermenlans 1 1 (17.7 %), C. sordell/‘i4 (6.45 %), C. pe/fri/1gens5 (8. l %), C. novyi 8 (13 %), C. botulimmz 10 (16 %), C. sporogenes l3 (21 %), C. telani3 (4.8 %) and C. rerliu/n 2 (3.2 %). One strain of C10slria'izun difficile (1.61 %) was detected on selective medium (CCFA). A total of 202 cooked meat carbohydrates selective (CMC+S) broth inoculated with fecal samples, were tested for detection of Closlridium