title: Stool caproic acid for screening of Clostridium difficile.
abstract: Clostridium difficile is the prime etiologic agent in the production of pseudomembranous colitis by its powerful cytotoxin. The most common test for the toxin is a tissue culture method with neutralization of cytopathic effect by a C. difficile antiserum. This method is expensive and requires a minimum of 72 hours before results can be obtained. Attempts to create a rapid method, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, latex agglutination, and fluorescent antibody test are fraught with many problems. This report describes a rapid method for the identification of C. difficile, using gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) for the demonstration of caproic acid, a product of the organisms fatty acid metabolism.
authors: Marshall University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Huntington, West Virginia 25704.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Madan
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Slifkin
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis; D002208:Caproates / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003013:Clostridium / Q000378:metabolism; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002208:Caproates; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile; C037652:hexanoic acid