Young Jin Kim1, Si Hyun Kim2, Junggu Ahn3, Soongmoon Cho4, Dongchun Kim4, Kwanghyun Kim4, Heegun Lee4, Hyunwoo Son4, Hee Joo Lee1, Dongeun Yong5, Jun Yong Choi6, Hye Ran Kim7, Jeong Hwan Shin8. 1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea; Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. 4. Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Research Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 6. Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 7. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. 8. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea; Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jhsmile@inje.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although Clostridium perfringens has been reported as a cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), it is uncommon to detect this pathogen in clinical microbiology laboratories in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of C. perfringens toxin in patients suspected of having AAD. METHODS: A total of 135 stool specimens submitted to a clinical microbiology laboratory for C. difficile toxin assay were tested. We tried to detect both C. difficile and C. perfringens toxins using the Seeplex Diarrhea ACE Detection kit (Seegene, Seoul, Korea). We evaluated the prevalence of 10 bacteria and 5 viruses. RESULTS: A total of 40 Clostridium spp. were detected in 34 specimens (29.6%). The C. perfringens toxin was detected in 14 of 135 specimens (10.4%), while C. difficile toxin was detected in 26 specimens (19.3%). Other bacteria and viruses, including 8 Aeromonas spp., were detected in 15 specimens. All tests were negative in 92 of the 135 specimens (68.1%). CONCLUSION: Clostridium perfringens toxin is relatively common, and we should consider the possibility of its presence in patients suspected of having AAD, especially if C. difficile tests are negative.
BACKGROUND: Although Clostridium perfringens has been reported as a cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), it is uncommon to detect this pathogen in clinical microbiology laboratories in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of C. perfringens toxin in patients suspected of having AAD. METHODS: A total of 135 stool specimens submitted to a clinical microbiology laboratory for C. difficile toxin assay were tested. We tried to detect both C. difficile and C. perfringens toxins using the Seeplex Diarrhea ACE Detection kit (Seegene, Seoul, Korea). We evaluated the prevalence of 10 bacteria and 5 viruses. RESULTS: A total of 40 Clostridium spp. were detected in 34 specimens (29.6%). The C. perfringens toxin was detected in 14 of 135 specimens (10.4%), while C. difficile toxin was detected in 26 specimens (19.3%). Other bacteria and viruses, including 8 Aeromonas spp., were detected in 15 specimens. All tests were negative in 92 of the 135 specimens (68.1%). CONCLUSION:Clostridium perfringens toxin is relatively common, and we should consider the possibility of its presence in patients suspected of having AAD, especially if C. difficile tests are negative.