A simple 3-step algorithm for improved laboratory detection of Clostridium difficile toxin without the need for tissue culture cytotoxicity neutralization assays

Susan E Sharp; W Michael Ivie; Misti R Buckles; Diane M Coover; Julie C Pohl; Patricia A Hatcher

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2009.03.009

A simple 3-step algorithm for improved laboratory detection of Clostridium difficile toxin without the need for tissue culture cytotoxicity neutralization assays

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Jul;64(3):344-6. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2009.03.009. Epub 2009 Apr 18.

Authors

Susan E Sharp¹, W Michael Ivie, Misti R Buckles, Diane M Coover, Julie C Pohl, Patricia A Hatcher

Affiliation

¹ Kaiser Permanente NW, Department of Pathology, Portland, OR 97230, USA. susan.e.sharp@kp.org

PMID: 19376666
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2009.03.009

Abstract

This report describes a 3-step algorithm for the detection of Clostridium difficile using an enzyme immunoassay for glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) antigen, a lateral flow assay for C. difficile toxin, and anaerobic broth culture. This method was found to detect more toxin-containing stool samples than the use of a combination GDH antigen plus toxin A/B testing alone.

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Anaerobiosis
Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
Bacterial Toxins / isolation & purification
Clostridioides difficile / growth & development
Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification*
Clostridioides difficile / pathogenicity
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / diagnosis*
Enterotoxins / isolation & purification
Glutamate Dehydrogenase / isolation & purification
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques / methods

Substances

Bacterial Proteins
Bacterial Toxins
Enterotoxins
tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile
toxB protein, Clostridium difficile
Glutamate Dehydrogenase