The independent platform for news, articles and advice for professionals in laboratory medicine

Clostridioides difficile: new testing method helps to stop it in its tracks

A new method to detect Clostridioides difficile can yield accurate results in as little as 15 minutes, leading to faster clinical decision-making and improving case management. Here, Jürgen Becker describes how this innovative assay can be integrated into near-patient testing, and outlines the positive impact it could have on hospital workflows and patient care.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common hospital-acquired illnesses that still frequently causes crippling disruption to bed management. Accurate diagnosis of the pathogen is essential for hospitals to be able to effectively identify and contain outbreaks as quickly as possible and minimise the impact on patient care. However, traditional tests have very
long turnaround times and low sensitivity, and they are often resource intensive. 

Infection by C. difficile is a public health concern that has gripped healthcare institutions in the UK and mainland Europe for decades. Over 14,000 cases of CDI were reported by NHS trusts in the UK between 2021 and 2022, showing a 14% increase from the previous year.1 Of these, a significant proportion is likely to be the result of healthcare-acquired infections,2 owing to the ability of C. difficile to quickly contaminate surfaces and transfer between patients. 

In hospitals, the organism is able to colonise and infect the most vulnerable of patients, leading to severe cases of bowel inflammation known as pseudomembranous colitis. C. difficile infection therefore carries significant risk for morbidity and a 30-day mortality rate as high as 38%.3 Considerable efforts have been made to explore the best options for effective infection control across the UK to help reduce the burden of C. difficile, and the identification of CDI in patients is a significant part of this. Rapid diagnosis would not only help to ensure prompt and appropriate therapeutic interventions, but could also guide isolation and infection control procedures to protect staff and vulnerable patients.

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
Register

Upcoming Events

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025