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Use of a Perianal Swab Compared With a Stool Sample to Detect Symptomatic Clostridium difficile Infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2017

Marisa A. Montecalvo ,
Emnet Sisay ,
Donna McKenna ,
Guiqing Wang ,
Paul Visintainer  and
Gary P. Wormser
Marisa A. Montecalvo*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
Emnet Sisay
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
Donna McKenna
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
Guiqing Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
Paul Visintainer
Affiliation:
Office of Research, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Gary P. Wormser
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
*
Address correspondence to Marisa A. Montecalvo, MD, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, 40 Sunshine Cottage Road, Valhalla, New York 10595 (marisa_montecalvo@nymc.edu).
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of a perianal swab to detect CDI.

METHODS

A perianal swab was collected from each inpatient with a positive stool sample for C. difficile (by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] test) and was tested for C. difficile by PCR and by culture. The variables evaluated included demographics, CDI severity, bathing before perianal swab collection, hours between stool sample and perianal swab, cycle threshold (Ct) to PCR positivity, and doses of CDI treatment before stool sample and before perianal swab.

RESULTS

Of 83 perianal swabs, 59 (71.1%) tested positive for C. difficile by PCR when perianal swabs were collected an average of 21 hours after the stool sample. Compared with the respective stool sample, the perianal sample was less likely to grow C. difficile (P=.005) and had a higher PCR Ct (P<.001). A direct, significant but weak correlation was detected between the Ct for a positive perianal sample and the respective stool sample (r=0.36; P=.006). An inverse dose relationship was detected between PCR positivity and CDI treatment doses before perianal swab collection (P=.27).

CONCLUSION

Perianal swabs are a simple method to detect C. difficile tcdB gene by PCR, with a sensitivity of 71%. These data were limited because stool samples and perianal swabs were not collected simultaneously. Compared with stool samples, the perianal Ct values and culture results were consistent with a lower bacterial load on the perianal sample due to the receipt of more CDI treatment before collection or unknown factors affecting perianal skin colonization.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:658–662

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 38 , Issue 6 , June 2017 , pp. 658 - 662
Copyright
© 2017 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved 

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