BMJ Paediatr Open. 2024 Apr 11;8(1):e002448. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002448.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the association between nutritional and clinical characteristics and quantitative PCR (qPCR)-diagnosis of bacterial diarrhoea in a multicentre cohort of children under 2 years of age with moderate to severe diarrhoea (MSD).
DESIGN: A secondary cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected from the AntiBiotics for Children with Diarrhoea trial (NCT03130114).
PATIENTS: Children with MSD (defined as
STUDY PERIOD: June 2017-July 2019.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Likely bacterial aetiology of diarrhoea. Secondary outcomes included specific diarrhoea aetiology.
RESULTS: A total of 6692 children with MSD had qPCR results available and 28% had likely bacterial diarrhoea aetiology. Compared with children with severe stunting, children with MAM (adjusted OR (aOR) (95% CI) 1.56 (1.18 to 2.08)), some/severe dehydration (aOR (95% CI) 1.66 (1.25 to 2.22)) or both (aOR (95% CI) 2.21 (1.61 to 3.06)), had higher odds of having likely bacterial diarrhoea aetiology. Similar trends were noted for stable toxin-enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli aetiology. Clinical correlates including fever and prolonged duration of diarrhoea were not associated with likely bacterial aetiology; children with more than six stools in the previous 24 hours had higher odds of likely bacterial diarrhoea (aOR (95% CI) 1.20 (1.05 to 1.36)) compared with those with fewer stools.
CONCLUSION: The presence of MAM, dehydration or high stool frequency may be helpful in identifying children with MSD who might benefit from antibiotics.
PMID:38604769 | DOI:10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002448
