Epidemiology of Diarrheal Diseases in Pediatric Oncology Patients

Overview

Diarrhea is a common problem in the pediatric population. Children with cancer are especially at increased risk for gastrointestinal infection-related morbidity and mortality due to their ongoing immunosuppression. However, the epidemiology of diarrheal illnesses in immunocompromised children is poorly understood. In the past, many or most cases of gastroenteritis have gone undiagnosed, largely due to a lack of sensitive diagnostic tests and a presumption that a large proportion of cases are due to treatment, rather than infections. The availability of new diagnostic tests that detect many gastrointestinal pathogens simultaneously offers the first opportunity to gain a comprehensive picture of the causes of infectious diarrhea in children with cancer. Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital want to learn about the epidemiology of diarrheal diseases in pediatric oncology patients utilizing broadly multiplexed, automated PCR.

This study plans to enroll participants in two groups: * GROUP 1: Participants with hematologic malignancies or solid tumors. * Participants who agree to take part in this research study will have stool samples collected at diagnosis (baseline sample) and each month thereafter for 12 months from the time of enrollment. Stool samples will be screened for different types of microbes that may be present. For participants who develop diarrhea during these 12 months, three additional stool samples will be collected on Day 0, Day 7 and Day 14; two blood samples and mid-turbinate nasal swab will be collected as well on Day 0 and Day 7 of the first observed diarrheal episode to screen for additional microbes that may be the cause of the diarrhea. * GROUP 2: Participants who are hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients. * Participants who agree to take part in this research study will have stool samples collected within one week prior to conditional chemotherapy (baseline sample) and weekly thereafter for a total of 16 weeks (pre- and early post-engraftment periods), followed by monthly for 8 months. Stool samples will be screened for different types of microbes that may be present. For participants who develop diarrhea, three additional stool samples will be collected on Day 0, Day 7 and Day 14; two blood samples and mid-turbinate nasal swab will be collected as well on Day 0 and Day 7 of the first observed diarrheal episode to screen for additional microbes that may be the cause of the diarrhea. For GROUP 2 participants, two diarrheal episodes will be studied per patient: the first diarrheal episode during the pre-engraftment period, and the first diarrheal episode during the post-engraftment period. Participants with a change in cancer treatment plan enrolled on study: Group 1 participants who experience a change in their cancer treatment plan necessitating an allogeneic stem cell transplant will be taken off study for group 1 and offered the opportunity to consent to group 2 Participants who chooses to then enroll on group 2 will complete the 12-month study requirements as defined in the protocol for group 2 participants. General health information from participant medical records and other health-related information about symptoms will also be obtained at the time of collection of the samples. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: * To assess the prevalence of microbial pathogens in the stool of pediatric oncology patients with diarrheal illness. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: * To describe the clinical course, symptomatology, morbidity and mortality associated with diarrheal diseases in pediatric oncology patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. * Evaluate the performance of the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the diagnosis of infectious diarrhea in comparison to the standard of care methods.