Comparison of perirectal versus rectal swabs for detection of asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic Clostridium difficile.
For long-term care and spinal cord injury patients, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of perirectal versus rectal cultures for detection of asymptomatic carriers of Clostridium difficile were 95%, 100%, 100%, and 97%, respectively. Perirectal cultures provide an accurate method to detect asymptomatic carriers of C. difficile.
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
David S
DS
Rogers
Sirisha
S
Kundrapu
Venkata C K
VC
Sunkesula
Curtis J
CJ
Donskey
D001003:Anal Canal / Q000382:microbiology*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*