title: Comparative analysis of different methods to detect Clostridium difficile infection.
abstract: The increased incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection, particularly in North America and Europe, have brought renewed focus on the most appropriate method to detect C. difficile and/or its toxins in stools. This prospective study evaluated the usefulness of the Illumigene TM C. difficile assay in diagnostic practice for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile DNA in clinical samples. A total of 88 out of 306 stool samples analysed were positive both by Illumigene and the combination of toxigenic C. difficile culture (TC) and immunochromatographic assay (IC) with a concordance of 100%. Of the 218 samples negative by the combination of TC and IC, 204 were negative also by Illumigene with a concordance of 93.57%. In our experience, compared to conventional assays Illumigene assay proved to be easy to perform, accurate and prompt giving results within 1 hour at a cost of 28 euro per sample.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Italy. adriana.calderaro@unipr.it
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Calderaro
authors: Mirko
authors: M
authors: Buttrini
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Martinelli
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Gorrini
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Montecchini
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Medici
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Arcangeletti
authors: Flora
authors: F
authors: De Conto
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Covan
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Chezzi
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies