목적: 이 연구의 목적은 우리 나라 소아에서 Clostridioides difficile 감염(CDI)의 발생률 및 임상양상을 확인하는 것이다. 방법: 2009년 1월부터 2018년 12월까지 세브란스 어린이병원에 입원한 2세 이상 18세 미만의 환자 중 CDI로 진단된 환자들의 의무기록을 확인하였고 환자를 세 군(community acquired [CA], community onset-health care facility associated [CO-HCFA], and health care facility onset [HO] CDI)으로 나누어 임상양상을 비교하였다. 결과: 2009년부터 2018년까지 CDI유병률은 입원환자 10,000명당 1.00명에서 10.01명까지 증가하였다(P<0.001). HO CDI 군은 CA CDI 군에 비해 수술(40.4% vs. 0.0%, P=0.001)과 악성종양(27.7% vs. 0.0%, P=0.027)이 선행된 경우가 많았고 CDI 진단 전 항생제의 사용 빈도(97.9% vs. 31.3%, P<0.001) 및 항생제 개수의 중앙값이(2 vs. 0, P<0.001) 높았으며 CDI진단 이후 재원일수(13일 vs. 5일, P=0.008) 가 길었다. CO-HCFA 군은 CA CDI 군보다 연령의 중앙값이 낮았고(5세 vs. 13세, P=0.012) 악성종양이 선행된 경우가 많았다(30.8% vs. 0.0%, P=0.030). CA CDI 군은 HO CDI 군에 비해 복통(56.3% vs. 10.6%, P=0.001)과 혈변(50.0% vs. 10.6%, P =0.002)이 동반된 빈도가 높았고, 염증성 장질환이 동반된 경우가 많았으며(68.8% vs. 2.1%, P =0.001), 치료로서 정주 metronidazole을 더 자주 사용하였다(37.5% vs. 2.1%, P =0.001). 결론: 국내 소아의 CDI 발생률이 증가되고 있어 이에 대해 경각심을 가지고 역학과 임상적 특징을 파악하는 것은 병원 감염 관리를 위하여 중요하다.
Purpose: We evaluated the incidence and characteristics of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in Korean children. Methods: Medical records of patients aged 2-18 years and diagnosed with CDI at a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2018 were analyzed. The patients were classified into three CDI groups: community-acquired (CA), community onset-health care facility-associated (CO-HCFA), and healthcare facility onset (HO). Results: The incidence of CDI increased from 1.00 to 10.01 cases per 10,000 admissions from 2009 to 2018 (P<0.001). As compared to the CA group, the HO group had a higher frequency of operation and malignancy as predisposing factors (40.4% vs. 0.0%, P=0.001; and 27.7% vs. 0.0%, P=0.027, respectively), frequency and number of previous antibiotic use (97.9% vs. 31.3%, P<0.001; and 2 vs. 0, P<0.001, respectively), and median postdiagnosis hospital stay (13 vs. 5 days, P=0.008). The CO-HCFA group had a lower median age and higher frequency of malignancy than the CA group (5 vs. 13 years, P=0.012; and 30.8% vs. 0.0%, P=0.030, respectively). As compared to the HO group, the CA group had a higher frequency of abdominal pain and hematochezia (56.3% vs. 10.6%, P=0.001; and 50.0% vs. 10.6%, P=0.002, respectively), inflammatory bowel disease (68.8% vs. 2.1%, P=0.001), and intravenous metronidazole treatment (37.5% vs. 2.1%, P=0.001). Conclusions: With the increasing incidence of pediatric CDI, awareness regarding its epidemiology and clinical characteristics is important to manage nosocomial infections.