ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE AND ENTEROCOLITIS IN HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE

High titres of a cytopathic toxin were found in the faeces of four of six children with Hirschsprung's disease (congenital aganglionic megacolon). The toxin was fully neutralised by Clostridium sordellii antiserum. C. difficile was isolated from the faeces of five patients. In two of the four children from whom tissue specimens were obtained there were histological features of pseudomembranous colitis. C. difficile may be implicated in the pathogenesis of some cases of Hirschsprung's enterocolitis.