Jeffrey M Pernica1, Andrew P Steenhoff2, Henry Welch3, Margaret Mokomane4, Isaac Quaye5, Tonya Arscott-Mills6, Loeto Mazhani7, Kwana Lechiile6, James Mahony8, Marek Smieja8, David M Goldfarb9. 1. Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 2. Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone Division of Infectious Disease and Section of Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 3. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 4. National Health Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana. 5. School of Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek. 6. Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone. 7. Department of Pediatrics, University of Botswana, Gaborone. 8. Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 9. Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone Department of Pediatrics, University of Botswana, Gaborone Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of death for young children. Most pediatric gastroenteritis is caused by viral pathogens; consequently, current recommendations advocate against routine antibacterial therapy if children present without bloody stools. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled children with severe acute gastroenteritis admitted to hospital in Botswana. Details of presenting history, physical examination, and course in the hospital were recorded. Stool samples were characterized using a 15 pathogen polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: There were 671 participants with a median age of 8.3 months; 77 (11%) had severe acute malnutrition. Only 74 children had bloody stools, of whom 48 (65%) had a detectable bacterial pathogen, compared to 195 of 592 (33%) of those without. There were 26 deaths (3.9%). Covariates associated with death in multivariable logistic regression were the detection of any of Campylobacter/Shigella/enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (odds ratio [OR] 2.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-6.17), severe acute malnutrition (OR 4.34, 95% CI 1.79-10.5), and antibiotic therapy (OR 8.82, 95% CI 2.03-38.2). There was no significant association between bloody stools and death, and the effect of Campylobacter/Shigella/enterotoxigenic E. coli infection on death was not modified by the presence of bloody stools. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of bacterial enteropathogens is associated with increased mortality in children in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, most children with these infections do not have bloody stools, and bloody dysentery was not found to be associated with worse outcomes. Clinical trials evaluating outcomes associated with more aggressive diagnostic strategies in children presenting with severe acute gastroenteritis in sub-Saharan Africa should be undertaken.
BACKGROUND:Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of death for young children. Most pediatric gastroenteritis is caused by viral pathogens; consequently, current recommendations advocate against routine antibacterial therapy if children present without bloody stools. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled children with severe acute gastroenteritis admitted to hospital in Botswana. Details of presenting history, physical examination, and course in the hospital were recorded. Stool samples were characterized using a 15 pathogen polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: There were 671 participants with a median age of 8.3 months; 77 (11%) had severe acute malnutrition. Only 74 children had bloody stools, of whom 48 (65%) had a detectable bacterial pathogen, compared to 195 of 592 (33%) of those without. There were 26 deaths (3.9%). Covariates associated with death in multivariable logistic regression were the detection of any of Campylobacter/Shigella/enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (odds ratio [OR] 2.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-6.17), severe acute malnutrition (OR 4.34, 95% CI 1.79-10.5), and antibiotic therapy (OR 8.82, 95% CI 2.03-38.2). There was no significant association between bloody stools and death, and the effect of Campylobacter/Shigella/enterotoxigenic E. coli infection on death was not modified by the presence of bloody stools. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of bacterial enteropathogens is associated with increased mortality in children in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, most children with these infections do not have bloody stools, and bloody dysentery was not found to be associated with worse outcomes. Clinical trials evaluating outcomes associated with more aggressive diagnostic strategies in children presenting with severe acute gastroenteritis in sub-Saharan Africa should be undertaken.
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