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van Prehn J, Crobach MJT, Baktash A, Duszenko N, Kuijper EJ. Diagnostic Guidance for C. difficile Infections. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1435:33-56. [PMID: 38175470 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-42108-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) can be challenging. First of all, there has been debate on which of the two reference assays, cell cytotoxicity neutralization assay (CCNA) or toxigenic culture (TC), should be considered the gold standard for CDI detection. Although the CCNA suffers most from suboptimal storage conditions and subsequent toxin degradation, TC is reported to falsely increase CDI detection rates as it cannot differentiate CDI patients from patients asymptomatically colonised by toxigenic C. difficile. Several rapid assays are available for CDI detection and fall into three broad categories: (1) enzyme immunoassays for glutamate dehydrogenase, (2) enzyme immunoassays or single-molecule array assays for toxins A/B and (3) nucleic acid amplification tests detecting toxin genes. All three categories have their own limitations, being suboptimal specificity and/or sensitivity or the inability to discern colonised patients from CDI patients. In light of these limitations, multi-step algorithmic testing has been advocated by international guidelines (IDSA/SHEA and ESCMID) in order to optimize diagnostic accuracy. As a result, a survey performed in 2018-2019 in Europe revealed that most of all hospital sites reported using more than one test to diagnose CDI. CDI incidence rates are also influenced by sample selection criteria, as several studies have shown that if not all unformed stool samples are tested for CDI, many cases may be missed due to an absence of clinical suspicion. Since methods for diagnosing CDI remain imperfect, there has been a growing interest in alternative testing strategies like faecal microbiota biomarkers, immune modulating interleukins, cytokines and imaging methods. At the moment, these alternative methods might play an adjunctive role, but they are not suitable to replace conventional CDI testing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joffrey van Prehn
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Centre for Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- ESCMID Study Group for C. difficile (ESGCD) and Study Group for Host and Microbiota Interaction (ESGHAMI), Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Monique J T Crobach
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Centre for Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amoe Baktash
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Centre for Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nikolas Duszenko
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Centre for Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ed J Kuijper
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Centre for Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- ESCMID Study Group for C. difficile (ESGCD) and Study Group for Host and Microbiota Interaction (ESGHAMI), Basel, Switzerland
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Anwar F, Clark M, Lindsey J, Claus-Walker R, Mansoor A, Nguyen E, Billy J, Lainhart W, Shehab K, Viswanathan VK, Vedantam G. Prevalence of diagnostically-discrepant Clostridioides difficile clinical specimens: insights from longitudinal surveillance. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1238159. [PMID: 37928470 PMCID: PMC10622765 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1238159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) is a healthcare-associated diarrheal disease prevalent worldwide. A common diagnostic algorithm relies on a two-step protocol that employs stool enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to detect the pathogen, and its toxins, respectively. Active CDI is deemed less likely when the Toxin EIA result is negative, even if the pathogen-specific EIA is positive for C. difficile. We recently reported, however, that low-toxin-producing C. difficile strains recovered from Toxin-negative ('discrepant') clinical stool specimens can be fully pathogenic, and cause lethality in a rodent CDI model. To document frequency of discrepant CDI specimens, and evaluate C. difficile strain diversity, we performed longitudinal surveillance at a Southern Arizona tertiary-care hospital. Methods Diarrheic stool specimens from patients with clinical suspicion of CDI were obtained over an eight-year period (2015-2022) from all inpatient and outpatient Units of a > 600-bed Medical Center in Southern Arizona. Clinical laboratory EIA testing identified C. difficile-containing specimens, and classified them as Toxin-positive or Toxin-negative. C. difficile isolates recovered from the stool specimens were DNA fingerprinted using an international phylogenetic lineage assignment system ("ribotyping"). For select isolates, toxin abundance in stationary phase supernatants of pure cultures was quantified via EIA. Results Of 8,910 diarrheic specimens that underwent diagnostic testing, 1733 (19.4%) harbored C. difficile. Our major findings were that: (1) C. difficile prevalence and phylogenetic diversity was stable over the 8-year period; (2) toxigenic C. difficile was recovered from 69% of clinically Tox-neg ('discrepant') specimens; (3) the six most prevalent USA ribotypes were recovered in significant proportions (>60%) from Tox-neg specimens; and (4) toxin-producing C. difficile recovered from discrepant specimens produced less toxin than strains of the same ribotype isolated from non-discrepant specimens. Conclusion Our study highlights the dominance of Toxin EIA-negative CDI specimens in a clinical setting and the high frequency of known virulent ribotypes in these specimens. Therefore, a careful reevaluation of the clinical relevance of diagnostically-discrepant specimens particularly in the context of missed CDI diagnoses and C. difficile persistence, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Anwar
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Marielle Clark
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jason Lindsey
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rachel Claus-Walker
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Asad Mansoor
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Evy Nguyen
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Justin Billy
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - William Lainhart
- Department of Pathology, Clinical Microbiology Laboratories, Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Kareem Shehab
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - V. K. Viswanathan
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Bio5 Institute for Collaborative Research, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Gayatri Vedantam
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Bio5 Institute for Collaborative Research, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Mah R, Locher K, Steiner TS, Stefanovic A. Clostridioides difficile PCR Tcdb Cycle Threshold predicts toxin EIA positivity but not severity of infection. Anaerobe 2023; 82:102755. [PMID: 37406762 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2023.102755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) entails compatible clinical presentation and laboratory findings. We evaluated real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) cycle threshold (CT) as a predictor for disease severity and TcdB enzyme immunoassay (EIA) results. METHODS Inpatients or emergency department patients who tested positive for tcdB gene by PCR were evaluated. Patients' stools underwent testing for GDH and TcdA/B by EIA. Medical health records were reviewed for demographic, clinical presentation, laboratory, treatment and outcome data. Severity of CDI was calculated using various severity score indexes. RESULTS The median CT of cases was 32.05 ± 5.45. The optimal cut-off for predicting toxin EIA positivity and severe CDI based on chart review was 32.6 and 29.8, respectively, with the area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.74 and 0.60 respectively. CONCLUSION CT value was an acceptable predictor for EIA toxin but less so for clinical severity. Our study potentially supports a diagnostic algorithm including CT value to reduce the number of EIA toxin assays performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan Mah
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 899 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
| | - Kerstin Locher
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Rm. G227 - 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
| | - Theodore S Steiner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Rm. C328 Heather Pavilion East, VGH 2733 Heather Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Aleksandra Stefanovic
- Division of Medical Microbiology and Virology, St. Paul's Hospital, Providence Room 2150, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Providence Room 2150, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
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Bocchetti M, Ferraro MG, Melisi F, Grisolia P, Scrima M, Cossu AM, Yau TO. Overview of current detection methods and microRNA potential in Clostridioides difficile infection screening. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:3385-3399. [PMID: 37389232 PMCID: PMC10303512 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i22.3385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile (formerly called Clostridium difficile, C. difficile) infection (CDI) is listed as an urgent threat on the 2019 antibiotic resistance threats report in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection and appropriate disease management appear to be essential. Meanwhile, although the majority of cases are hospital-acquired CDI, community-acquired CDI cases are also on the rise, and this vulnerability is not limited to immunocompromised patients. Gastrointestinal treatments and/or gastrointestinal tract surgeries may be required for patients diagnosed with digestive diseases. Such treatments could suppress or interfere with the patient’s immune system and disrupt gut flora homeostasis, creating a suitable microecosystem for C. difficile overgrowth. Currently, stool-based non-invasive screening is the first-line approach to CDI diagnosis, but the accuracy is varied due to different clinical microbiology detection methods; therefore, improving reliability is clearly required. In this review, we briefly summarised the life cycle and toxicity of C. difficile, and we examined existing diagnostic approaches with an emphasis on novel biomarkers such as microRNAs. These biomarkers can be easily detected through non-invasive liquid biopsy and can yield crucial information about ongoing pathological phenomena, particularly in CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bocchetti
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Ferraro
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II,” Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Federica Melisi
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Piera Grisolia
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Marianna Scrima
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Alessia Maria Cossu
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli,” Naples 80138, Italy
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Precision Medicine Laboratory and COVID19 Laboratory, Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino 83031, Italy
| | - Tung On Yau
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom
- Department of Rural Land Use, Scotland’s Rural College, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Department of Health Science, University of the People, Pasadena, CA 9110112, United States
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5
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Conesa C, Bellés A, Grasa L, Sánchez L. The Role of Lactoferrin in Intestinal Health. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1569. [PMID: 37376017 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestine represents one of the first barriers where microorganisms and environmental antigens come into tight contact with the host immune system. A healthy intestine is essential for the well-being of humans and animals. The period after birth is a very important phase of development, as the infant moves from a protected environment in the uterus to one with many of unknown antigens and pathogens. In that period, mother's milk plays an important role, as it contains an abundance of biologically active components. Among these components, the iron-binding glycoprotein, lactoferrin (LF), has demonstrated a variety of important benefits in infants and adults, including the promotion of intestinal health. This review article aims to provide a compilation of all the information related to LF and intestinal health, in infants and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Conesa
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Andrea Bellés
- Departamento de Farmacología, Fisiología y Medicina Legal y Forense, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón IA2 (UNIZAR-CITA), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laura Grasa
- Departamento de Farmacología, Fisiología y Medicina Legal y Forense, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón IA2 (UNIZAR-CITA), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Lourdes Sánchez
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón IA2 (UNIZAR-CITA), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
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Anwar F, Roxas BAP, Shehab KW, Ampel N, Viswanathan VK, Vedantam G. Low-Toxin Clostridioides difficile RT027 Strains Exhibit Robust Virulence. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:1982-1993. [PMID: 35880487 PMCID: PMC9361768 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2105260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections worldwide. Currently, there is a lack of consensus for an optimal diagnostic method for C. difficile infection (CDI). Multi-step diagnostic algorithms use enzyme immunosorbent analysis (EIA)-based detection of C. difficile toxins TcdA/TcdB in stool, premised on the rationale that EIA toxin-negative (Tox−) patients have less severe disease and shorter diarrhoea duration. The aim of this study was to characterize toxigenic (i.e. tcdA/tcdB-positive) C. difficile strains isolated from diarrheic patient stool with an EIA Tox− (i.e. “discrepant”) CDI diagnostic test result. Recovered strains were DNA fingerprinted (ribotyped), subjected to multiple toxin, genome and proteome evaluations, and assessed for virulence. Overall, of 1243 C. difficile-positive patient stool specimens from Southern Arizona hospitals, 31% were discrepant. For RT027 (the most prevalent ribotype)-containing specimens, 34% were discrepant; the corresponding RT027 isolates were cytotoxic to cultured fibroblasts, but their total toxin levels were comparable to, or lower than, the historic low-toxin-producing C. difficile strain CD630. Nevertheless, these low-toxin RT027 strains (LT-027) exhibited similar lethality to a clade-matched high-toxin RT027 strain in Golden Syrian hamsters, and heightened colonization and persistence in mice. Genomics and proteomics analyses of LT-027 strains identified unique genes and altered protein abundances, respectively, relative to high-toxin RT027 strains. Collectively, our data highlight the robust virulence of LT-027 C. difficile, provide a strong argument for reconsidering the clinical significance of a Tox− EIA result, and underscore the potential limitations of current diagnostic protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Anwar
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Bryan Angelo P Roxas
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kareem W Shehab
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - V K Viswanathan
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.,BIO5 Institute for Collaborative Research, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Gayatri Vedantam
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.,BIO5 Institute for Collaborative Research, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, Tucson, AZ, USA
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7
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Mizusawa M, Carroll KC. The future of Clostridioides difficile diagnostics. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2021; 34:483-490. [PMID: 34524199 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Although the epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile has changed, this organism continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. This review addresses current and future approaches to the diagnosis of C. difficile disease. RECENT FINDINGS Over the last several years, large prospective studies have confirmed that there is no single optimal test for the diagnosis of C. difficile disease. The pendulum has swung from a focus on rapid molecular diagnosis during the years of the ribotype 027 epidemic, to a call for use of algorithmic approaches that include a test for toxin detection. In addition, diagnostic stewardship has been shown to improve test utilization, especially with molecular methods. Advances in testing include development of ultrasensitive toxin tests and an expansion of biomarkers that may be more C. difficile specific. Microbiome research may be leveraged to inform novel diagnostic approaches based on measurements of volatile and nonvolatile organic compounds in stool. SUMMARY As rates of C. difficile infection decline, emphasis is now on improving test utilization and a quest for improved diagnostic approaches. These approaches may involve implementation of technologies that improve toxin testing, predict patients likely to have disease and/or a severe outcome, and harnessing research on changes in the microbiome to advance metabolomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masako Mizusawa
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Karen C Carroll
- Division of Medical Microbiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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8
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Bonacorsi S, Visseaux B, Bouzid D, Pareja J, Rao SN, Manissero D, Hansen G, Vila J. Systematic Review on the Correlation of Quantitative PCR Cycle Threshold Values of Gastrointestinal Pathogens With Patient Clinical Presentation and Outcomes. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:711809. [PMID: 34631732 PMCID: PMC8496934 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.711809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Quantitative (q) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values represent the number of amplification cycles required for a positive PCR result and are a proxy of pathogen quantity in the tested sample. The clinical utility of Ct values remains unclear for gastrointestinal infections. Objectives: This systematic review assesses the global medical literature for associations between Ct values of gastrointestinal pathogens and patient presentation and clinical outcomes. Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library databases: searched January 14-17, 2020. Study Eligibility Criteria: Studies reporting on the presence or absence of an association between Ct values and clinical outcomes in adult and pediatric populations were included. Animal studies, reviews, meta-analyses, and non-English language studies were excluded. Participants: Humans infected with gastrointestinal pathogens, detected with qPCR. Interventions: Diagnostics assessing Ct values. Extracted data were reported narratively. Results: Thirty-three eligible studies were identified; the most commonly studied pathogens were Clostridioides difficile (n = 15), norovirus (n = 10), and rotavirus (n = 9). Statistically significant associations between low C. difficile Ct values and increased symptom severity or poor outcome were reported in 4/8 (50%) studies, and increased risk of death in 1/2 (50%) studies; no significant associations were found between Ct value and duration of symptoms or length of hospital stay. Among studies of norovirus, 5/7 (71%), mainly genogroup II, reported symptomatic cases with significantly lower median Ct values than controls. Significantly lower rotavirus Ct values were also observed in symptomatic cases vs. controls in 3/7 (43%) studies, and associated with more severe symptoms in 2/2 studies. Contradictory associations were identified for non-C. difficile bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Conclusions: In conclusion, some studies reported clinically useful associations between Ct values and patient or healthcare outcomes; additional, well-designed, large-scale trials are warranted based on these findings. Systematic Review Registration: [PROSPERO], identifier [CRD42020167239].
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Bonacorsi
- Department of Microbiology, Robert Debré University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Visseaux
- Université de Paris, IAME, INSERM, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Donia Bouzid
- Université de Paris, IAME, INSERM, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Service d'Accueil des Urgences, Hôpital Bichat Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Josep Pareja
- STAT-Dx Life, S.L. (a QIAGEN Company), Medical Affairs, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sonia N. Rao
- QIAGEN Inc., Medical Affairs, Germantown, MD, United States
| | - Davide Manissero
- QIAGEN Manchester Ltd, Medical Affairs, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Glen Hansen
- Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Hennepin County Medical Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jordi Vila
- Biomedical Diagnostic Centre, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Global Health, School of Medicine, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Schweitzer L, Gervais P, Paquet-Bolduc B, Loo VG, Longtin Y. Detection of Free Toxin B in the Stool of Asymptomatic Clostridioides difficile Carriers by the Cell Cytotoxicity Neutralization Assay. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021; 8:ofab209. [PMID: 34113687 PMCID: PMC8186239 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell cytotoxicity neutralization assay (CCNA) is considered to be a gold standard to diagnose Clostridioides difficile infections. We performed CCNA on 77 consecutive admission screening rectal swabs from asymptomatic toxigenic C. difficile carriers. Thirty-nine percent of specimens from asymptomatic carriers were positive. Thus, CCNA specificity may be lower than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorne Schweitzer
- McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Phillippe Gervais
- Département de Microbiologie, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Bianka Paquet-Bolduc
- Département de Microbiologie, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Vivian G Loo
- McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yves Longtin
- McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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10
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Mizusawa M, Carroll KC. Advances and required improvements in methods to diagnosing Clostridioides difficile infections in the healthcare setting. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2021; 21:311-321. [PMID: 33682564 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2021.1900737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clostrididioides difficile is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and increased morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and health-care costs.Areas Covered: We searched relevant papers in PubMed for the last 10 years. In major papers, we scanned the bibliographies to ensure that important articles were included. This review addresses the evolving epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and discusses novel methods/approaches for improving the diagnosis of this important disease. EXPERT OPINION No single diagnostic test to date has demonstrated optimum sensitivity and specificity for detection of CDI. Many institutions have developed multi-step algorithms consistent with guidelines established by various professional societies. Some institutions have successfully tried to improve the pretest probability of molecular assays by implementing appropriate sample rejection criteria and establishing best practice alerts at the time of electronic order entry. Others have established PCR cycle threshold cutoffs to attempt to differentiate symptomatic patients from asymptomatic carriers or to make predictions about severity of disease with variable success. As research advances our understanding of C. difficile pathogenesis and pathophysiology, more information on CDI specific biomarkers is emerging. Finally, assessments of the microbiome and metabolome may expand the diagnostic armamentarium with advances in mass spectrometry and sequencing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masako Mizusawa
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Karen C Carroll
- Director Division of Medical Microbiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Golizeh M, Winter K, Roussel L, Landekic M, Langelier M, Loo VG, Ndao M, Vinh DC. Fecal host biomarkers predicting severity of Clostridioides difficile infection. JCI Insight 2021; 6:142976. [PMID: 33232301 PMCID: PMC7821589 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.142976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a major cause of health care-associated diarrhea. Severity ranges from mild to life-threatening, but this variability remains poorly understood. Microbiologic diagnosis of C. difficile infection (CDI) is straightforward but offers little insight into the patient's prognosis or into pathophysiologic determinants of clinical trajectory. The aim of this study was to discover host-derived, CDI-specific fecal biomarkers involved in disease severity. Subjects without and with CDI diarrhea were recruited. CDI severity was based on Infectious Diseases Society of America/Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America criteria. We developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry approach to identify host-derived protein biomarkers from stool and applied it to diagnostic samples for cohort-wise comparison (CDI-negative vs. nonsevere CDI vs. severe CDI). Selected biomarkers were orthogonally confirmed and subsequently verified in a CDI mouse model. We identified a protein signature from stool, consisting of alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2MG), matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), and alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT), that not only discriminates CDI-positive samples from non-CDI ones but also is potentially associated with disease severity. In the mouse model, this signature with the murine homologs of the corresponding proteins was also identified. A2MG, MMP-7, and A1AT serve as biomarkers in patients with CDI and define novel components of the host response that may determine disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makan Golizeh
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Kaitlin Winter
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology and
| | - Lucie Roussel
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Host-directed Immunotherapy to Fight Infectious disease (HI-FI) Program, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marija Landekic
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology and.,Host-directed Immunotherapy to Fight Infectious disease (HI-FI) Program, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Mélanie Langelier
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Host-directed Immunotherapy to Fight Infectious disease (HI-FI) Program, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Vivian G Loo
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology and.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Quebéc, Canada.,Host-directed Immunotherapy to Fight Infectious disease (HI-FI) Program, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, MUHC, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Momar Ndao
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology and.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Quebéc, Canada
| | - Donald C Vinh
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology and.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Quebéc, Canada.,Host-directed Immunotherapy to Fight Infectious disease (HI-FI) Program, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, MUHC, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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McLean K, Balada-Llasat JM, Waalkes A, Pancholi P, Salipante SJ. Whole-genome sequencing of clinical Clostridioides difficile isolates reveals molecular epidemiology and discrepancies with conventional laboratory diagnostic testing. J Hosp Infect 2020; 108:64-71. [PMID: 33227298 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high clinical burden of Clostridioides difficile infections merits rapid and sensitive identification of affected individuals. However, effective diagnosis remains challenging. Current best practice guidelines recommend molecular and/or direct toxin detection-based screening for symptomatic individuals, but previous work has called into question the concordance and performance of extant clinical assays. AIM To better correlate the genomic and phenotypic properties of clinical C. difficile isolates with laboratory testing outcomes in both C. difficile-infected patients and asymptomatic carriers. METHODS Whole-genome sequencing of clinical C. difficile isolates collected from an inpatient population at a single healthcare institution was performed, enabling examination of their molecular epidemiology and toxigenic gene content. Genomic findings were compared with clinical testing outcomes, identifying multiple diagnostic discrepancies. FINDINGS Toxigenic culture, considered a 'reference standard', provided perfect sensitivity and specificity in predicting toxigenic gene content, whereas reduced performance was observed for Simplexa C. difficile Direct Assay (100% specificity, 88% sensitivity), Gene Xpert CD/Epi Assay (86% specificity, 83% sensitivity), and Quick Check Complete Tox A/B (100% specificity, 30% sensitivity). Genomic analysis additionally revealed variability in toxin gene sequences among C. difficile strains, phylogenomic equivalency between isolates from affected patients and carriers, and patient carriage with uncommon environmentally derived C. difficile lineages, as well as presenting opportunities for tracing pathogen transmission events. CONCLUSION These results highlight the variable performance of clinical stool-based testing approaches as well as the potential diagnostic utility of whole-genome sequencing as an alternative to conventional testing algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- K McLean
- University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J-M Balada-Llasat
- Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - A Waalkes
- University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - P Pancholi
- Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - S J Salipante
- University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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13
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A 2-step algorithm combining glutamate dehydrogenase and nucleic acid amplification tests for the detection of Clostridioides difficile in stool specimens. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 40:345-351. [PMID: 32944896 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-04027-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The optimized diagnosis algorithm of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is worldwide concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess the toxigenic C. difficile test performance and propose an optimal laboratory workflow for the diagnosis of CDI in mild virulent epidemic areas. Diarrhea samples collected from patients were analyzed by glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), toxin AB (CDAB), and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). We assessed the performance of GDH, the GDH-CDAB algorithm, and the GDH-NAAT algorithm using toxigenic culture (TC) as a reference method. In this study, 186 diarrhea samples were collected. The numbers of TC-positive and TC-negative samples were 39 and 147, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and kappa of the GDH assay were 100%, 80.3%, 57.4%, 100%, and 0.63; of the GDH-CDAB algorithm were 48.7%, 97.3%, 82.6%, 87.7%, and 0.54; and of the GDH-NAAT algorithm were 74.4%, 100%, 100%, 93.6%, and 0.82, respectively. The GDH-NAAT algorithm has great concordance with TC in detecting toxigenic C. difficile (kappa = 0.82), while the sensitivity of the GDH-CDAB algorithm was too low to meet the demand of CDI diagnosis clinically. GDH-NAAT algorithm is recommended for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile with high specificity, increased sensitivity, and cost-effective.
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Relationship between faecal metronidazole and lactoferrin concentrations to clinical response of patients with Clostridioides difficile. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 39:1781-1784. [DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-03895-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Ultrasensitive Clostridioides difficile Toxin Testing for Higher Diagnostic Accuracy. J Clin Microbiol 2020; 58:JCM.01913-19. [PMID: 32269098 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01913-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently available diagnostic tests for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) lack specificity or sensitivity, which has led to guideline recommendations for multistep testing algorithms. Ultrasensitive assays for detection of C. difficile toxins provide measurements of disease-specific markers at very low concentrations. These assays may show improved accuracy compared to that of current testing methods and offer a potential standalone solution for CDI diagnosis, although large studies of clinical performance and accuracy are lacking.
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Carroll KC, Mizusawa M. Laboratory Tests for the Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile. Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2020; 33:73-81. [PMID: 32104159 PMCID: PMC7042017 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium (reclassified as " Clostridioides ") difficile is an anaerobic, gram-positive bacterium that causes significant disease through elaboration of two potent toxins in patients whose normal gut microbiota has been altered through antimicrobial or chemotherapeutic agents (dysbiosis). The optimum method of laboratory diagnosis is still somewhat controversial. Recent practice guidelines published by professional societies recommend a two-step approach beginning with a test for glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), followed by a toxin test and/or a nucleic acid test. Alternatively, in institutions where established clinical algorithms guide testing, a nucleic acid test alone is acceptable. Nucleic acid tests are the methods of choice in approximately 50% of laboratories in the United States. These tests are considered as the most sensitive methods for detection of C. difficile in stool and are the least specific. Because of the lower specificity with nucleic acid tests, some clinicians believe that toxin enzyme immunoassays are better predictors of disease, despite their known poor performance in certain patient populations. This review will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the currently available test methods for the diagnosis of C. difficile with a brief mention of some novel assays that are currently in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen C. Carroll
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Address for correspondence Karen C. Carroll, MD Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, the Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineMeyer B1-193, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore MD 21287
| | - Masako Mizusawa
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri
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Increased Clinical Specificity with Ultrasensitive Detection of Clostridioides difficile Toxins: Reduction of Overdiagnosis Compared to Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests. J Clin Microbiol 2019; 57:JCM.00945-19. [PMID: 31434726 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00945-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common health care-associated infections, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Diagnosis of CDI relies on the assessment of clinical presentation and laboratory tests. We evaluated the clinical performance of ultrasensitive single-molecule counting technology for detection of C. difficile toxins A and B. Stool specimens from 298 patients with suspected CDI were tested with the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT; BD MAX Cdiff assay or Xpert C. difficile assay) and Singulex Clarity C. diff toxins A/B assay. Specimens with discordant results were tested with the cell cytotoxicity neutralization assay (CCNA), and the results were correlated with disease severity and outcome. There were 64 NAAT-positive and 234 NAAT-negative samples. Of the 32 NAAT+/Clarity- and 4 NAAT-/Clarity+ samples, there were 26 CCNA- and 4 CCNA- samples, respectively. CDI relapse was more common in NAAT+/toxin+ patients than in NAAT+/toxin- and NAAT-/toxin- patients. The clinical specificity of Clarity and NAAT was 97.4% and 89.0%, respectively, and overdiagnosis was more than three times more common in NAAT+/toxin- than in NAAT+/toxin+ patients. The Clarity assay was superior to NAATs for the diagnosis of CDI, by reducing overdiagnosis and thereby increasing clinical specificity, and the presence of toxins was associated with negative patient outcomes.
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Brukner I, Eintracht S, Forgetta V, Papadakis AI, Spatz A, Oughton M. Laboratory-developed test for detection of acute Clostridium difficile infections with the capacity for quantitative sample normalization. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 95:113-118. [PMID: 31176521 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2019.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We describe a laboratory-developed test intended for the detection of acute Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) with the capacity for quantitative sample normalization. The test is based on the detection of the tcdB gene. However, this biomarker is also present among people without symptoms, implying that individuals with diarrhea, not caused by C. difficile may nonetheless test positive. Therefore, clinical diagnosis based on this format of testing can be challenging. In order to improve diagnostic assays capability, tcdB-based quantification methods were suggested as a potential solution, however they did not increase clinical specificity. We report methodology for a dual biomarker monitoring (total bacterial load and tcdB assay), allowing for the calculation of the relative presence of tcdB in the total bacterial population in the tested samples. We believe that this approach is clinically relevant to current assays and can improve CDI testing algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Brukner
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jewish General Hospital, Quebec, Canada; Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Quebec, Canada; McGill University, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Shaun Eintracht
- Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Quebec, Canada; McGill University, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Alan Spatz
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Quebec, Canada; McGill University, Department of Pathology, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthew Oughton
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Jewish General Hospital, Quebec, Canada; McGill University, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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19
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Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Quantitation as Predictor of Toxin Presence in Clostridium difficile Infection. J Clin Microbiol 2018; 56:JCM.01316-17. [PMID: 29237788 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01316-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Multistep algorithmic testing in which a sensitive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) is followed by a specific toxin A and toxin B enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is among the most accurate methods for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) diagnosis. The obvious shortcoming of this approach is that multiple tests must be performed to establish a CDI diagnosis, which may delay treatment. Therefore, we sought to determine whether a preliminary diagnosis could be made on the basis of the quantitative results of the first test in algorithmic testing, which provide a measure of organism burden. To do so, we retrospectively analyzed two large collections of samples (n = 2,669 and n = 1,718) that were submitted to the laboratories of two Dutch hospitals for CDI testing. Both hospitals apply a two-step testing algorithm in which a NAAT is followed by a toxin A/B EIA. Of all samples, 208 and 113 samples, respectively, tested positive by NAAT. Among these NAAT-positive samples, significantly lower mean quantification cycle (Cq ) values were found for patients whose stool eventually tested positive for toxin, compared with patients who tested negative for toxin (mean Cq values of 24.4 versus 30.4 and 26.8 versus 32.2; P < 0.001 for both cohorts). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to investigate the ability of Cq values to predict toxin status and yielded areas under the curve of 0.826 and 0.854. Using the optimal Cq cutoff values, prediction of the eventual toxin A/B EIA results was accurate for 78.9% and 80.5% of samples, respectively. In conclusion, Cq values can serve as predictors of toxin status but, due to the suboptimal correlation between the two tests, additional toxin testing is still needed.
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20
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Kim HN, Kim H, Moon HW, Hur M, Yun YM. Toxin positivity and tcdB gene load in broad-spectrum Clostridium difficile infection. Infection 2017; 46:113-117. [PMID: 29218569 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-017-1108-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of toxin positivity and toxin gene load, and the relation between them in the broad spectrum of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) including colonization, significant diarrhea, and severe disease. METHODS We included 2671 fecal samples submitted for CDI diagnosis and 180 samples from healthy individuals. The clinical spectrum was categorized as category I (toxigenic C. difficile positive without clinical CDI criteria), category II (mild CDI), and category III (severe CDI). Clinical parameters were compared based on toxin EIA and tcdB C t values. C t values of tcdB PCR for predicting toxin EIA positivity were assessed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS The median C t values of tcdB PCR and toxin positivity were not significantly correlated with clinical spectrum of CDI (27.5, 28.2, and 26.1 for tcdB C t and 55.0, 56.6, and 60.9% for toxin EIA positivity in category I, II, and III, respectively, P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the tcdB C t values between toxin EIA-positive and -negative groups (P < 0.001). Optimal cutoff for the tcdB C t value for estimating toxin EIA positivity was 26.3 with 79.3% sensitivity and 83.6% specificity with good area under the curves (AUC, 0.848). CONCLUSIONS The C t values successfully predicted toxin EIA positivity and could be used as a surrogate for toxin EIA positivity in the diagnostic algorithm and routine analysis. Further studies are needed to validate the clinical significance of tcdB PCR C t value in toxigenic C. difficile colonization and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeong Nyeon Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05030, Korea
| | - Hanah Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05030, Korea
| | - Hee-Won Moon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05030, Korea.
| | - Mina Hur
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05030, Korea
| | - Yeo-Min Yun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05030, Korea
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Peterson LR, Young SA, Davis TE, Wang ZX, Duncan J, Noutsios C, Liesenfeld O, Osiecki JC, Lewinski MA. Evaluation of the cobas Cdiff Test for Detection of Toxigenic Clostridium difficile in Stool Samples. J Clin Microbiol 2017; 55:3426-3436. [PMID: 28954901 PMCID: PMC5703809 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01135-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are reliable tools for the detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile from unformed (liquid or soft) stool samples. The objective of this study was to evaluate performance of the cobas Cdiff test on the cobas 4800 system using prospectively collected stool specimens from patients suspected of having C. difficile infection (CDI). The performance of the cobas Cdiff test was compared to the results of combined direct and broth-enriched toxigenic culture methods in a large, multicenter clinical trial. Additional discrepancy analysis was performed by using the Xpert C. difficile Epi test. Sample storage was evaluated by using contrived and fresh samples before and after storage at -20°C. Testing was performed on samples from 683 subjects (306 males and 377 females); 113 (16.5%) of 683 subjects were positive for toxigenic C. difficile by direct toxigenic culture, and 141 of 682 subjects were positive by using the combined direct and enriched toxigenic culture method (reference method), for a prevalence rate of 20.7%. The sensitivity and specificity of the cobas Cdiff test compared to the combined direct and enriched culture method were 92.9% (131/141; 95% confidence interval [CI], 87.4% to 96.1%) and 98.7% (534/541; 95% CI, 97.4% to 99.4%), respectively. Discrepancy analysis using results for retested samples from a second NAAT (Xpert C. difficile/Epi test; Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA) found no false-negative and 4 false-positive cobas Cdiff test results. There was no difference in positive and negative results in comparisons of fresh and stored samples. These results support the use of the cobas Cdiff test as a robust aid in the diagnosis of CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance R Peterson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Stephen A Young
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- TriCore Reference Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Thomas E Davis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Zi-Xuam Wang
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John Duncan
- Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, California, USA
| | - Christopher Noutsios
- Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, California, USA
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, California, USA
| | - John C Osiecki
- Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, California, USA
| | - Michael A Lewinski
- Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, California, USA
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Truong C, Schroeder LF, Gaur R, Anikst VE, Komo I, Watters C, McCalley E, Kulik C, Pickham D, Lee NJ, Banaei N. Clostridium difficile rates in asymptomatic and symptomatic hospitalized patients using nucleic acid testing. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 87:365-370. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2016.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Martínez-Meléndez A, Camacho-Ortiz A, Morfin-Otero R, Maldonado-Garza HJ, Villarreal-Treviño L, Garza-González E. Current knowledge on the laboratory diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:1552-1567. [PMID: 28321156 PMCID: PMC5340807 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i9.1552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a spore-forming, toxin-producing, gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that is the principal etiologic agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Infection with C. difficile (CDI) is characterized by diarrhea in clinical syndromes that vary from self-limited to mild or severe. Since its initial recognition as the causative agent of pseudomembranous colitis, C. difficile has spread around the world. CDI is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among older adult hospitalized patients. Due to extensive antibiotic usage, the number of CDIs has increased. Diagnosis of CDI is often difficult and has a substantial impact on the management of patients with the disease, mainly with regards to antibiotic management. The diagnosis of CDI is primarily based on the clinical signs and symptoms and is only confirmed by laboratory testing. Despite the high burden of CDI and the increasing interest in the disease, episodes of CDI are often misdiagnosed. The reasons for misdiagnosis are the lack of clinical suspicion or the use of inappropriate tests. The proper diagnosis of CDI reduces transmission, prevents inadequate or unnecessary treatments, and assures best antibiotic treatment. We review the options for the laboratory diagnosis of CDI within the settings of the most accepted guidelines for CDI diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CDI.
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Real-Time Electronic Tracking of Diarrheal Episodes and Laxative Therapy Enables Verification of Clostridium difficile Clinical Testing Criteria and Reduction of Clostridium difficile Infection Rates. J Clin Microbiol 2017; 55:1276-1284. [PMID: 28250001 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02319-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Health care-onset health care facility-associated Clostridium difficile infection (HO-CDI) is overdiagnosed for several reasons, including the high prevalence of C. difficile colonization and the inability of hospitals to limit testing to patients with clinically significant diarrhea. We conducted a quasiexperimental study from 22 June 2015 to 30 June 2016 on consecutive inpatients with C. difficile test orders at an academic hospital. Real-time electronic patient data tracking was used by the laboratory to enforce testing criteria (defined as the presence of diarrhea [≥3 unformed stools in 24 h] and absence of laxative intake in the prior 48 h). Outcome measures included C. difficile test utilization, HO-CDI incidence, oral vancomycin utilization, and clinical complications. During the intervention, 7.1% (164) and 9.1% (211) of 2,321 C. difficile test orders were canceled due to absence of diarrhea and receipt of laxative therapy, respectively. C. difficile test utilization decreased upon implementation from an average of 208.8 tests to 143.0 tests per 10,000 patient-days (P < 0.001). HO-CDI incidence rate decreased from an average of 13.0 cases to 9.7 cases per 10,000 patient-days (P = 0.008). Oral vancomycin days of therapy decreased from an average of 13.8 days to 9.4 days per 1,000 patient-days (P = 0.009). Clinical complication rates were not significantly different in patients with 375 canceled orders compared with 869 episodes with diarrhea but negative C. difficile results. Real-time electronic clinical data tracking is an effective tool for verification of C. difficile clinical testing criteria and safe reduction of inflated HO-CDI rates.
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Point-Counterpoint: What Is the Optimal Approach for Detection of Clostridium difficile Infection? J Clin Microbiol 2017; 55:670-680. [PMID: 28077697 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02463-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTIONIn 2010, we published an initial Point-Counterpoint on the laboratory diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). At that time, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) were just becoming commercially available, and the idea of algorithmic approaches to CDI was being explored. Now, there are numerous NAATs in the marketplace, and based on recent proficiency test surveys, they have become the predominant method used for CDI diagnosis in the United States. At the same time, there is a body of literature that suggests that NAATs lack clinical specificity and thus inflate CDI rates. Hospital administrators are taking note of institutional CDI rates because they are publicly reported. They have become an important metric impacting hospital safety ratings and value-based purchasing; hospitals may have millions of dollars of reimbursement at risk. In this Point-Counterpoint using a frequently asked question approach, Ferric Fang of the University of Washington, who has been a consistent advocate for a NAAT-only approach for CDI diagnosis, will discuss the value of a NAAT-only approach, while Christopher Polage of the University of California Davis and Mark Wilcox of Leeds University, Leeds, United Kingdom, each of whom has recently written important articles on the value of toxin detection in the diagnosis, will discuss the impact of toxin detection in CDI diagnosis.
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