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. 1993 Feb;167(2):455-8.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/167.2.455.

Detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in stool specimens by the polymerase chain reaction

N Kato  1 , C Y Ou, H Kato, S L Bartley, C C Luo, G E Killgore, K Ueno
Affiliations

Detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in stool specimens by the polymerase chain reaction

N Kato et al. J Infect Dis. 1993 Feb.

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a segment of the toxin A gene was used to detect toxigenic Clostridium difficile directly from stool specimens of patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Although PCR-inhibitory substances were recognized in DNA prepared from stool specimens, the inhibitory substances were eliminated by using an ion-exchange column after phenol-chloroform extraction. Eventually, 39 stool specimens were evaluated by PCR. PCR results for detection of toxigenic C. difficile were in complete agreement with cell culture assay results; all 12 PCR-positive stool specimens were positive by cytotoxin assay, and all 27 PCR-negative specimens were negative by cytotoxin assay. Toxigenic C. difficile was cultured from all PCR-positive specimens. These results suggest that PCR amplification may be an effective method for laboratory diagnosis of C. difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis.

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