A-B+ Toxigenic Clostridium difficile Strains in Children with Cancer

Clostridium difficile was recognized as a major cause of pseudo membranous colitis, antibiotic associated diarrhea and nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of A-B+ C. difficile isolates, among children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy by Multiplex PCR.

During a period of 12 month, 105 stool samples were collected from children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Multiplex PCR, was performed by specific primers of tpi (teriose phosphate isomerase), tcdA, and tcdB (A and B toxins) genes.

In this study C. difficile was identified in 18 cases (17.14%﴿ patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Among of positive C. difficile isolated, 13 cases (72%﴿ were recognized toxigenic cases, as follow: 30.76% A+B+ (both toxin- producing), 61.53% A-B+ (only producing toxin B) and 7.7% were A+B- (only producing toxin A).Counclusion: Our results revealed that, high prevalence of A-B+ toxigenic C. difficile strains in patients group. Considering these strains can lead to C. difficile associated infections, its appears to be important in order to prevention of high prevalence of this bacterium, apply rapid and reliable molecular detection methods such as Multiplex PCR is essential for preliminary screening and detection of C. difficile and its toxins.