Utility of perirectal swab specimens for diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection.
For 139 patients tested for Clostridium difficile infection by polymerase chain reaction, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of testing perirectal swabs vs stool specimens were 95.7%, 100%, 100%, and 99.1%, respectively. For selected patients, perirectal swabs provide an accurate toxigenic C. difficile detection strategy.
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Sirisha
S
Kundrapu
Venkata C K
VC
Sunkesula
Lucy A
LA
Jury
Ajay K
AK
Sethi
Curtis J
CJ
Donskey
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology