Evaluation of new selective culture media and a rapid fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for identification of Clostridium difficile from stool samples

Abstract

Two new Clostridium difficile-selective agars, from Oxoid (according to Brazier) and from BD, were compared with cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose agar (Oxoid) for their sensitivity of recovery of toxigenic C. difficile from stool samples. For the culture-positive samples, the sensitivities were 84.0, 42.6 and 90.4 %, respectively. In addition, a C. difficile-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization assay was developed, facilitating rapid and reliable identification of cultured isolates.