| Line 6: | Line 6: | 
|  |  |  |  | 
|  | =DIAGNOSIS= |  | =DIAGNOSIS= | 
| − | * Laboratory testing cannot distinguish between asymptomatic colonization and active infection. | + | * Laboratory testing cannot always distinguish between asymptomatic colonization and active infection. | 
|  | ==Diagnostic criteria== |  | ==Diagnostic criteria== | 
|  | * Diarrhea |  | * Diarrhea | 
|  | * Positive stool test for toxigenic C. diff or toxins or visualization of pseudomembranous colitis |  | * Positive stool test for toxigenic C. diff or toxins or visualization of pseudomembranous colitis | 
|  | ==Diagnostic approaches== |  | ==Diagnostic approaches== | 
| − | * Toxigenic Culture (TC) and/or Cell Cytotoxicity Assay (CCA) | + | * Gold Standard: Toxigenic Culture (TC) and/or Cell Cytotoxicity Assay (CCA) | 
|  | ** Anaerobic culture for 24-48 hrs followed by colony selection and culture with human cells to test for cell cytotoxicity which takes an additional 24-48 hours. |  | ** Anaerobic culture for 24-48 hrs followed by colony selection and culture with human cells to test for cell cytotoxicity which takes an additional 24-48 hours. | 
| − | * Gold standard
 |  | 
|  | ** Time consuming and difficult, up to 5 days |  | ** Time consuming and difficult, up to 5 days | 
|  | ** Detects a little as 3 picograms of toxin |  | ** Detects a little as 3 picograms of toxin | 
| Line 21: | Line 20: | 
|  | * PCR / NAAT |  | * PCR / NAAT | 
|  | ** Detects tcdA/tcdB genes, mRNA for the toxins |  | ** Detects tcdA/tcdB genes, mRNA for the toxins | 
| − | *** Detects presence of toxigenic strains of C. diff
 | + | ** Detects presence of toxigenic strains of C. diff | 
| − | * mRNA doesn't necessarily imply active infection | + | ** mRNA doesn't necessarily imply active infection | 
| − | ** EIA / ELISA
 | + | * EIA / ELISA | 
| − | *** Detects toxin in stool
 | + | ** Detects toxin in stool | 
| − | *** Low sensitivity (0.73-0.87)
 | + | ** Low sensitivity (0.73-0.87) | 
|  | * Multistep algorithms, there are dozens |  | * Multistep algorithms, there are dozens | 
|  | ** EIA for GDH / Toxin A/B |  | ** EIA for GDH / Toxin A/B | 
| − | * Both positive = C. diff | + | *** Both positive = C. diff | 
| − | * Both negative = NO C. diff | + | *** Both negative = NO C. diff | 
| − | * Mixed results, use PCR for tcdB as tiebreaker | + | *** Mixed results, use PCR for tcdB as tiebreaker | 
|  | ** Toxin EIA 1 (Meridian), higher PPV, lower NPV |  | ** Toxin EIA 1 (Meridian), higher PPV, lower NPV | 
|  | ** Toxin EIA 2 (TechLab), lower PPV, higher NPV |  | ** Toxin EIA 2 (TechLab), lower PPV, higher NPV | 
| − | * Highest NPV (99.8%) GDH EIA + NAAT | + | ** Highest NPV (99.8%) GDH EIA + NAAT | 
| − | * Highest PPV (93.5%) Toxin EIA 1 + NAAT | + | ** Highest PPV (93.5%) Toxin EIA 1 + NAAT | 
|  |  |  |  | 
|  | =TREATMENT= |  | =TREATMENT= |