title: Detection of Clostridium difficile in faeces by direct gas liquid chromatography.
abstract: Stool specimens examined for the presence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin were screened by gas liquid chromatography for the presence of volatile fatty acids and p-cresol. Twenty seven of 110 (25%) stools yielded C difficile or cytotoxin; iso-valeric acid was detected in 63/110 (57%) and iso-caproic acid in 18/110 (16%) stools. Para-cresol was found in 24/71 (34%) stools examined. Iso-valeric acid was detected in 85% of stools positive for C difficile, whereas iso-caproic acid (41%) and p-cresol (52%) were found in much lower numbers of C difficile-positive stools. It is concluded that gas chromatographic detection of volatile fatty acids or p-cresol in faeces are not satisfactory screening tests for the presence of C difficile.
mesh_terms: D002208:Caproates / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003013:Clostridium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003408:Cresols / Q000032:analysis; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D006801:Humans; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D003408:Cresols; D003603:Cytotoxins; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D010421:Pentanoic Acids; C008216:isovaleric acid; C032538:4-cresol; C034527:isocaproic acid