Utility of perirectal swab specimens for diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection

Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Dec;55(11):1527-30. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis707. Epub 2012 Aug 21.

Abstract

For 139 patients tested for Clostridium difficile infection by polymerase chain reaction, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of testing perirectal swabs vs stool specimens were 95.7%, 100%, 100%, and 99.1%, respectively. For selected patients, perirectal swabs provide an accurate toxigenic C. difficile detection strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification*
  • Clostridium Infections / diagnosis
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin / microbiology