Bacterial Gastrointestinal Infections in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PIBD)—A Single-Center Experience of Epidemiology, Management, and Outcome

Background: Due to dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and immunosuppressive therapy, pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) patients are more susceptible to infections. However, data on bacterial gastrointestinal (GI) infections in this population are scarce, and no guidelines explicitly address immunosuppressive therapy management during such infections. This single-center study aims to address these knowledge gaps. Methods: A retrospective study of bacterial GI infections was conducted in PIBD patients aged 0–18 years, treated between 2011 and 2021 at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz. Data to assess the study endpoints were extracted from the hospital information system. Results: A total of 139 PIBD patients were screened for bacterial GI infections. The mean follow-up time was 49 months (standard deviation ±33) and the total follow-up time amounted to approximately 473 person-years. Fourteen patients developed infections, with three experiencing them twice, resulting in 17 cases of infection. Most infections were caused by opportunistic bacteria, and 10 infections were treated with antibiotics (11 antibiotic prescriptions in total). At infection onset, 12 patients were on (combined) immunosuppressive therapy, including corticosteroids (3 patients), immunomodulators (9 patients), and/or biologics (3 patients). Six infections required escalation of immunosuppressive therapy due to increased PIBD activity. Hospitalization was required in five cases, and one Clostridioides difficile infection progressed to sepsis, necessitating intensive care unit admission. This corresponds to an incidence of three infections (95% confidence interval 1.75–4.80) and 0.2 severe infections per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 0.01–1.11). Conclusions: The incidence of bacterial GI infections was 3 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval: 1.75–4.80), with most cases being clinically mild. Clostridioides difficile was the most common pathogen. Immunosuppressive therapy was generally continued or intensified, when necessary, while antibiotic therapy was administered as indicated.