Repeat PCR for Diagnosing Clostridium difficile Infection?

Repeat polymerase chain reaction testing within 7 days after collection of a PCR-negative stool was rarely useful.

Methods for diagnosing Clostridium difficile infection include anaerobic toxigenic stool culture, cell culture cytotoxicity assay, enzyme immunoassay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the tcdB toxin B gene of the organism. Many physicians order repeat testing when initial results are negative. But is repeat PCR within days of a negative test result useful?

To find out, investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study that involved pediatric and adult patients treated for diarrhea at one medical center in California between July and December 2009. Diarrhea was defined as loose or watery stool that conformed to the shape of the collection container. All patients with at least two tcdB PCR tests within 14 days w…

Reviewing Author

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)