Search

Objective: Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium that spreads via the fecal-oral route and causes asymptomatic carriage or mild diarrheal diseases such as pseudomembranous enterocolitis. C. difficile is the commonest cause of nosocomial and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in North America and Europe. It can produce two toxins called A and B. Strains producing toxins can lead to a more serious disease picture that causes megacolon, perforation or septic shock. The use of molecular methods with high specificity and sensitivity has become widespread in recent years. The use of molecular methods with high specificity and sensitivity, which are easier to apply in diagnosis, and to obtain rapid results, has become widespread in recent years. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate C. difficile results determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from stool samples. Methods: 109 fecal samples that came to our laboratory between January 2017 and September 2018 on suspicion of C. difficile infection were tested with the GeneXpert C. difficile PCR (Cepheid, CA, AD) method. The data obtained are interpreted as positive, negative or invalid results. Results: A total of 109 samples were tested. 66 (61%) of the stool samples belonged to male and 43 (39%) female patients. Twenty-five (23%) of the patients were under the age of 18 and 36 (33%) under the age of 18 years. Of the samples, 26 (24%) were from intensive care units, 60 (55%) were from services and 23 (21%) were from polyclinics. It was found 109 from stool samples. 9 (8%), C. difficile PCR test toxin B positive, 100 (92%) negative. Conclusion: The most important cause of nosocomial diarrhea is C. difficile. The main predisposing factor of infection is the use of antibiotics. Prophylaxis or even one dose of antibiotic therapy may be sufficient for the development of C. difficile infection. Rapid and accurate diagnosis by PCR is important for early initiation of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Clinical & Experimental Investigations is the property of Modestum Publications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)