A68 CLOSTRIDIOIDES DIFFICILE INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Abstract Background Toxigenic Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), previously known as Clostridium difficile, is an anaerobic gram-positive spore-forming opportunistic pathogen associated with profuse diarrhea and gastroenteritis associated mortality and morbidity especially in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aims To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in children with IBD in the province of Manitoba. Methods Our longitudinal population-based cohort comprised of all children and young adults < 17y diagnosed with IBD in the Canadian province of Manitoba between 2011 and 2019. The diagnosis of CDI was confirmed based on the Triage C. difficile immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction assay to detect the presence of toxigenic C. difficile. Fisher’s exact test was used to examine the relationship between categorical variables. Cox-regression model was used to estimate the risk of CDI development in IBD patients. Results Among the 261 children with IBD, 20 (7.7%) developed CDI with an incidence rate of 5.04 cases per 1000 person-years and the median age at diagnosis of 12.96 years (IQR: 9.33–15.81). The incidence rate of CDI among UC and CD patients were 4.16 cases per 1000 person-years and 5.88 cases per 1000 person-years, respectively (p=0.46). Compared to children without CDI, those who had CDI were at increased risk of future exposure to systemic corticosteroids (hazard ratio (HR)=4.30; 95% CI: 1.44–12.87) and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologics (HR=3.37; 95% CI: 1.13–10.09). Recurrence rate of CDI in our pediatric IBD population was 25%. Conclusions Our findings confirm that children with IBD are at a high risk of developing CDI, which may predict future escalation of IBD therapy. Funding Agencies The Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba