More Children Hospitalized With Severe Clostridium Difficile, Says Study

What is unclear however is what has happened since 2006. Studies in adults suggest the rates of hospitalizations and severe illness from this pathogen have stayed level since 2006 after they tripled between 2000 and 2006.

Whether incidence in pediatric populations has leveled off as well since 2006 remains to be studied further.

The bacterial infection is associated with colonization after the use of antibiotics, which may give rise to a toxin by wiping out normal flora in the gut. The infection causes inflammation of the colon and diarrhea that can be life-threatening.

It's unclear from this study whether the problematic strain of this bacterium is being disseminated within hospital settings or is brought in from the community.

Additional care required because of infections acquired within the hospital are a big worry for providers because under rules that took effect in October 2008, hospitals longer qualify to receive federal reimbursement for that care. Third-party payers may adopt similar policies.