C Diff Diagnosis

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections and the clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic colonization to toxic megacolon and fulminant colitis.

Typing methods are needed for epidemiological tracking of new emerging and hypervirulent strains because of the growing incidence, severity and mortality of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI). The aim of this study was the evaluation of a typing Matrix-Assisted Desorption/Ionization-Ti …

Video Abstract OBJECTIVES: Many hospitals have transitioned from conventional stool diagnostics to rapid multiplex polymerase chain reaction gastrointestinal panels (GIP). The clinical impact of this testing has not been evaluated in children. In this study, we compare use, results, and patient outcomes between conventional diagnostics and GIP testing. METHODS: This is a multicenter cross-sectional study of children who underwent stool testing from 2013 to 2017. We used bivariate analyses to compare test use, results, and patient outcomes, including length of stay (LOS), ancillary testing, ...

Our study confirmed the relevance of CDI underdiagnosis and provided new insights in the factors underlying the lack of CDI clinical suspicion.

Antibiotic-induced modulation of the intestinal microbiota can lead to Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), which is associated with considerable morbidity, mortality, and healthcare-costs globally. Therefore, identification of markers predictive of CDI could substantially contribute to guiding …

Aetiological diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections is challenging since a wide range of bacteria, parasites and viruses can be causal agents and derived clinical manifestations appear quite similar. Our aim was to evaluate contribution of the novel QIAstat-DxGastrointestinal Panel (GIP) to aetiol …

This prognostic marker might not be an adequate reason to test for Clostridium difficile in hospitalized patients.

With labs blinding a specific panel, a C diff diagnosis can be masked and missed.

Nearly half of all CDI orders were inappropriate among hospitalized patients, and an additional 24% of test results never returned. Provider- and patient-level risk factors included type of provider, specific hospital units, and signs of sepsis.

Video Abstract OBJECTIVES: Many hospitals have transitioned from conventional stool diagnostics to rapid multiplex polymerase chain reaction gastrointestinal panels (GIP). The clinical impact of this testing has not been evaluated in children. In this study, we compare use, results, and patient outcomes between conventional diagnostics and GIP testing. METHODS: This is a multicenter cross-sectional study of children who underwent stool testing from 2013 to 2017. We used bivariate analyses to compare test use, results, and patient outcomes, including length of stay (LOS), ancillary testing, ...

In this issue of Pediatrics , Cotter et al1 offer valuable analysis of the utility of molecular (nucleic acid amplification) enteric pathogen diagnostic technology in hospitalized children. These tests return highly worthwhile information for some infections, but many of their results are prone to misinterpretation. However, diagnostic guidelines based on classic microbiologic techniques do not perform well either.2 Molecular enteric microbiology is, therefore, a model opportunity for diagnostic stewardship to maximize worth and minimize wasteful expense. Cotter et al1 find that only 3.7% o...

Leukocytosis is not an independent predictor of a positive NAAT result for hospitalized patients with Clostridium difficile infections.