Evolution of testing algorithms at a university hospital for detection of Clostridium difficile infections.
We present the evolution of testing algorithms at our institution in which the C. Diff Quik Chek Complete immunochromatographic cartridge assay determines the presence of both glutamate dehydrogenase and Clostridium difficile toxins A and B as a primary screen for C. difficile infection and indeterminate results (glutamate dehydrogenase positive, toxin A and B negative) are confirmed by the GeneXpert C. difficile PCR assay. This two-step algorithm is a cost-effective method for highly sensitive detection of toxigenic C. difficile.
Clinical Microbiology-Immunology Laboratories, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Karissa
K
Culbreath
Edward
E
Ager
Ronald J
RJ
Nemeyer
Alan
A
Kerr
Peter H
PH
Gilligan
D000465:Algorithms; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase