We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Clostridium difficile Examined by Different Methods

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 30 Apr 2018
Print article
Image: A positive C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE. The assay simultaneously tests for GDH and Toxins A & B providing actionable C. difficile results in less than 30 minutes (Photo courtesy of Alere).
Image: A positive C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE. The assay simultaneously tests for GDH and Toxins A & B providing actionable C. difficile results in less than 30 minutes (Photo courtesy of Alere).
The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has shifted in the last decade and is now affecting populations previously at low risk to include healthy adults, peripartum women and young children.

The point prevalence of Clostridium difficile stool shedding in hospitalized infants from two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) was examined utilizing standard clinical testing compared with duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify toxigenic and non-toxigenic C. difficile strains.

Pediatric disease specialists at University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, NE, USA) included all infants from the two NICUs affiliated with a single academic medical center were eligible for inclusion in the point prevalence survey. Stool collection was blinded to patient characteristics and occurred during a one-week period at each NICU and repeated with a second weeklong collection six months later to increase sample size.

Stools were tested for C. difficile using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with samples testing +/+ or +/− subsequently evaluated by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification. Cytotoxicity assays were performed on all samples positive for C. difficile by any modality (Clostridium difficile Toxin/Antitoxin kit. A rapid thermocycler was used to specifically amplify a conserved region of both toxigenic and non-toxigenic C. difficile tpi gene and a non-repeat region of the toxigenic C. difficile tcdB gene.

The scientists collected 84 stools from unique infants for evaluation. EIA results showed six+/+ (7.1%), seven +/− (8.3%), and 71 −/− [84.5%] samples. All six EIA +/+ were confirmed as toxigenic C. difficile by LAMP; 6/7 EIA +/− were negative by LAMP with one identified as invalid. Duplex PCR concurred with LAMP in all six stools positive for toxigenic C. difficile. PCR identified two EIA −/− stools positive for tpi, indicating shedding of non-toxigenic C. difficile. Cytotoxicity assay was positive in 4/6 duplex PCR positive samples and negative for all stools that were EIA +/− but negative by molecular testing.

The authors concluded that C. difficile blinded point prevalence in infants from two NICUs was 7.1% by molecular methods; and lower than expected based on historical incidence estimates. In house duplex PCR had excellent concordance with clinically available LAMP and EIA tests, and added detection of non-toxigenic C. difficile strain shedding. Evolving NICU care practices may be influencing the composition of infant gut microbiota and reducing the point prevalence of C. difficile shedding in NICU patient stools. The study was published on April 13, 2018, in the journal BMC Pediatrics.

Related Links:
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
New
Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.