Detection of Clostridium difficile among diarrheic children using cultural and polymerase chain reaction technique

Bakhtyar Nader Ali; Ali Yahya Saeed; Amir Abdulmawjood

doi:10.3855/jidc.17473

Detection of Clostridium difficile among diarrheic children using cultural and polymerase chain reaction technique

Authors

Bakhtyar Nader Ali Duhok Research Center, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5684-1364
Ali Yahya Saeed Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9427-3856
Amir Abdulmawjood Institute for Food Quality and Food Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5189-8381

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.17473

Keywords:

Clostridium difficile, diarrhea, culture, PCR

Abstract

Introduction: Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis. Several methods are available for the detection of C. difficile in stool samples. This study aimed to use glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), toxin detection, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the diagnosis of this pathogen.

Methodology: A total of 300 stool samples were collected from children with hospital acquired diarrhea (HA-D), community acquired diarrhea (CA-D), and hospitalized non-diarrheic children as control with ages ranging from 6 months to 6 years (mean 3.7 ± 1.7). Each stool sample was divided into two parts; one part was tested for the enzyme GDH, toxin A and B and then cultured on selective media; and the other part for direct DNA extraction.

Results: From a total of 300 stool samples, 9 (3.0%) were positive for C. difficile by the PCR technique, 7 (7%) samples of which were from HA-D cases and 2 (2.0%) from CA-D cases; the control group samples were negative. The enzyme GDH was detected in 12 (12%) samples and toxins A and B in 8 (8%) samples from HA-D cases compared to 5 (5%) and 2 (2%), respectively from CA-D cases. Both GDH and the toxins were negative in control samples. Only 19 (19.0%) samples from HA-D cases gave suspected growth and all of these were negative by PCR.

Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, we conclude that the PCR technique is the only reliable method for the diagnosis of this pathogen.

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Published

2023-10-31

How to Cite

Ali BN, Saeed AY, Abdulmawjood A (2023) Detection of Clostridium difficile among diarrheic children using cultural and polymerase chain reaction technique. J Infect Dev Ctries 17:1452–1457. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17473

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Issue

Vol. 17 No. 10: October 2023

Section

Original Articles

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