title: Improved detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile using the Cepheid Xpert C difficile assay and impact on C difficile infection rates in a tertiary hospital: a double-edged sword.
abstract: Recent recommendations suggest implementation of a 2-step diagnostic algorithm for the laboratory detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile. We found that the rate of toxigenic C difficile detection in our laboratory doubled after the introduction of an algorithm that incorporated polymerase chain reaction testing. This led to an abrupt 70% increase in the overall rate of C difficile infection in our institution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. dwilliamson@adhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Indira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Swager
authors.forename: Sally A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins