title: Evaluation of a chromogenic culture medium for the detection of Clostridium difficile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is an important cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Diagnostic methods for detection of C. difficile infection (CDI) are shifting to molecular techniques, which are faster and more sensitive than conventional methods. Although recent advances in these methods have been made in terms of their cost-benefit, ease of use, and turnaround time, anaerobic culture remains an important method for detection of CDI.
  
  
  METHODS
  In efforts to evaluate a novel chromogenic medium for the detection of C. difficile (chromID CD agar), 289 fecal specimens were analyzed using two other culture media of blood agar and cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose-egg yolk agar while enzyme immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction-based assay were used for toxin detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ChromID showed the highest detection rate among the three culture media. Both positive rate and sensitivity were higher from chromID than other culture media. ChromID was better at detecting toxin producing C. difficile at 24 h and showed the highest detection rate at both 24 h and 48 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simultaneous use of toxin assay and anaerobic culture has been considered as the most accurate and sensitive diagnostic approach of CDI. Utilization of a more rapid and sensitive chromogenic medium will aid in the dianogsis of CDI.
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
authors: John Jeongseok
authors: JJ
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Biomedical Science, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
authors: You Sun
authors: YS
authors: Nam
authors: Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min Jin
authors: MJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sun Young
authors: SY
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eunkyung
authors: E
authors: You
authors: Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yun Soo
authors: YS
authors: Soh
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. leehejo@khmc.or.kr.
authors: Hee Joo
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D002863:Chromogenic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D003470:Culture Media
keywords: Clostridium difficile; chromogenic; culture