Effect of Metronidazole in Infants with Bowel Habit Change: Irrelative to the Colonization.

PURPOSE

Clinical symptoms associated with infection (CDI) can vary widely. Carrier state without apparent symptoms is relatively common during infancy. The objective of this study was to determine the association of colonization with bowel habit change and the effect of colonization treatment on restoration of normal bowel habit.

METHODS

Between 2006 and 2014, infants at 1 to 12 months of age with diarrhea for more than 2 weeks who did not improve with conservative care were recruited from Gachon University Gil Medical Center. Infants who were followed up for at least 7 days were included. The presence or absence of colonization, effect of metronidazole, and other medical records were reviewed. To determine the association between CDI and bowel habit change, logistic regression analysis was used.

RESULTS

Of a total of 126 infants, 74 (58.7%) were male patients. Of the 126 patients, 27 (21.4%) had colonization. Significant (<0.05) risk factors for colonization included artificial milk feeding (odds ratio [OR], 4.310; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.564-11.878), prior rotavirus vaccination (OR, 4.322; 95% CI, 1.018-18.349), and antibiotic use (OR, 4.798; 95% CI, 1.430-16.101). There was improvement in bowel habit after metronidazole therapy (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.79; <0.05), regardless of the presence or absence of colonization.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant correlation between bowel habit change and colonization during infancy. However, metronidazole can be used as an optional method to manage functional gastrointestinal disorders.