Question

When can we trust C diff results in infants/children?

1) Only when symptoms are present
2) Only when symptoms are absent
3) Both when symptoms are present and when symptoms are absent
4) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

C. diff test results in infants and children should only be trusted when symptoms are present, due to concerns over asymptomatic carriage leading to false-positive results without clinical signs of infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When it comes to trusting Clostridium difficile (C. diff) test results in infants and children, it's crucial to consider the presence of symptoms. The appropriate time to trust C. diff test results is only when symptoms are present. This is due to the fact that asymptomatic carriage of C. difficile is not uncommon in infants and can lead to false-positive results if testing is done in the absence of symptoms. The detection of the bacteria or its toxins in symptomatic individuals can support the diagnosis and management of C. difficile-associated disease. It's also important to note the history of antibiotic use, as this can disrupt the normal microbiota and predispose to C. difficile overgrowth.