Improved detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile using the Cepheid Xpert C difficile assay and impact on C difficile infection rates in a tertiary hospital: A double-edged sword.

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Improved detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile using the Cepheid Xpert C difficile assay and impact on C difficile infection rates in a tertiary hospital: A double-edged sword.

Am J Infect Control. 2012 Aug 30;

Authors: Williamson DA, Basu I, Freeman J, Swager T, Roberts SA

Abstract

Recent recommendations suggest implementation of a 2-step diagnostic algorithm for the laboratory detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile. We found that the rate of toxigenic C difficile detection in our laboratory doubled after the introduction of an algorithm that incorporated polymerase chain reaction testing. This led to an abrupt 70% increase in the overall rate of C difficile infection in our institution.

PMID: 22939418 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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