Fulltext

Molecular and culture-based diagnosis of Clostridium difficile isolates from Côte d'Ivoire after prolonged storage at disrupted cold chain conditions

Becker, Sören L. ; Chatigre, Justin K. ; Coulibaly, Jean T. ; Mertens, Pascal ; Bonfoh, Bassirou ; Herrmann, Mathias ; Kuijper, Ed J. ; N'Goran, Eliézer K. ; Utzinger, Jürg ; von Müller, Lutz

In: Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2015, vol. 109, no. 10, p. 660-668

Ajouter à la liste personnelle
    Titre
    • Molecular and culture-based diagnosis of Clostridium difficile isolates from Côte d'Ivoire after prolonged storage at disrupted cold chain conditions
    Auteur
    • Becker, Sören L.. Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße, Building 43, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
    • Chatigre, Justin K.. Département de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Méthodiste de Dabou, Dabou, Côte d'Ivoire
    • Coulibaly, Jean T.. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Mertens, Pascal. Coris BioConcept, Rue Jean Sonet 4A, B-5032 Gembloux, Belgium
    • Bonfoh, Bassirou. Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, 01 BP 1303, Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire
    • Herrmann, Mathias. Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße, Building 43, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
    • Kuijper, Ed J.. Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, NL-2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
    • N'Goran, Eliézer K.. Unité de Formation et de Recherche Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 02 BP 770, Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
    • Utzinger, Jürg. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • von Müller, Lutz. Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße, Building 43, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2015, vol. 109, no. 10, p. 660-668. Oxford University Press
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:296703
    Summary
    Background Although Clostridium difficile is a major cause of diarrhoea, its epidemiology in tropical settings is poorly understood. Strain characterisation requires work-up in specialised laboratories, often after prolonged storage without properly maintained cold chain. Methods We screened 298 human faecal samples from Côte d'Ivoire using a rapid test for C. difficile glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). GDH-positive samples were aerobically stored at disrupted cold chain conditions (mean duration: 11 days) before transfer to a reference laboratory for anaerobic culture, susceptibility testing, PCR assays and ribotyping. Results Sixteen samples (5.4%) had a positive GDH screening test. C. difficile infection was confirmed in six specimens by culture and PCR, while no nucleic acids of C. difficile were detected in the culture-negative samples. Further analysis of stool samples harbouring toxigenic C. difficile strains confirmed that both GDH and toxins remained detectable for at least 28 days, regardless of storage conditions (aerobic storage at 4°C or 20°C). Conclusions Storage conditions only minimally affect recovery of C. difficile and its toxins in stool culture. A rapid GDH screening test and subsequent transfer of GDH-positive stool samples to reference laboratories for in-depth characterisation may improve our understanding of the epidemiology of C. difficile in the tropics