Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPEnt) in stool samples originally submitted for detection of Clostridium difficile toxins. Fifty-two fecal samples from inpatients were screened simultaneously for C. difficile and C. perfringens toxins: 75% of the specimens were positive for TcdA/TcdB toxins, 40% were positive for CPEnt, and 31% gave positive test results for both. It is interesting to note that only a relatively small number of C. perfringens isolates were positive for the cpe gene. All C. difficile strains were susceptible to metronidazole, but intermediate metronidazole resistance was documented for the C. perfringens isolates, which decreased upon in vitro passaging in the absence of metronidazole. We recommend that CPEnt detection should be included when diagnosing patients with presumed antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Toxins / genetics
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Clostridioides difficile / drug effects
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Clostridioides difficile / genetics
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Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification*
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Clostridioides difficile / metabolism
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Clostridium perfringens / drug effects
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Clostridium perfringens / genetics
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Clostridium perfringens / isolation & purification*
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Clostridium perfringens / metabolism
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Diarrhea / epidemiology
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Diarrhea / etiology
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Diarrhea / microbiology
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Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / diagnosis*
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Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / epidemiology*
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Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / microbiology
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Enterotoxins / genetics*
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Feces / chemistry
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Feces / microbiology
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Humans
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Metronidazole / pharmacology
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Pilot Projects
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Poland / epidemiology
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Prevalence
Substances
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Anti-Infective Agents
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Bacterial Proteins
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Bacterial Toxins
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Enterotoxins
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enterotoxin, Clostridium
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tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile
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toxB protein, Clostridium difficile
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Metronidazole