[Six years evaluation of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea].
This study was aimed to detect the presence of Clostridium difficile toxin in the stool samples of patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea or pseudomembranous colitis, and to relate its presence with the clinical findings of the patients. Between January 1997-April 2003, a total of 726 stool samples were investigated for C. difficile toxin A and/or B by enzyme immunoassay. Of them, 68 (9.4%) were found positive for C. difficile toxin (62 were toxin A, 6 were toxin B). C. difficile associated diarrhea were found to be related mostly with the use of beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (32/68), followed by aminoglycosides (12/68), and cephalosporins (8/68). The ages of the patients were between 1-86 years old (mean: 43.3 years), and 36 (52.9%) of them had an underlying conditions. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic renal failure were the underlying disease in 18, malignancy in 11, and others (diabetes, hepatitis, transplantation, multiple sclerosis) in 7 of the patients. In conclusion, toxin detection and knowledge of the risk factors are the beneficial guidelines for the diagnosis of C. difficile associated diarrhea in the routine setting.
Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakültesi, Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Ankara.
Serpil
S
Ercis
Alper
A
Ergin
Gülşen
G
Hasçelik
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile