Immunocard toxins a b assay

Patients included in the study were adults with a suspected diagnosis of CDI who reported ≥3 bowel movements with loose stools (Bristol 5–7) in the preceding 24 h. For CDI confirmation at least one of the following tests had to be positive: detection of toxins using the ImmunoCard toxins A&B assay (Meridian Bioscience, Cincinnati, OH, USA) in stools, real-time PCR (Cepheid Xpert C. difficile/Epi, Cepheid, Sunnyvale CA) in stools, or an endoscopic image consistent with pseudomembranous colitis. All hospitals used the same diagnostic methods with the exception of GEA and INCAN where no PCR-testing was performed. At the time of the study, none of the hospitals used glutamate deshidrogenase test (GDH).
CDI was classified as hospital-onset healthcare facility-associated CDI (HO-HCFA) when patients had been in-hospital for at least 48 h and were CDI free at admission, or as community-onset health care facility-associated (CO-HCFA) when patients were hospitalized for at least 48 h during the previous 12 weeks at CDI onset.¹¹ (link) Data on community-acquired CDI was very limited, with no cases included. Treatment failure was defined as persistence of diarrhea after five days of treatment.¹²

We performed a retrospective review of hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of CDI between January 1, 2011 to September 30, 2015, who underwent abdominal CT within 72 h of diagnosis. The study was performed at the University Hospital “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, a 450-bed tertiary care hospital in Monterrey, Mexico.
Patients included were 18 years or older, and the diagnosis was determined by the Immunocard toxins A&B assay (Meridian Bioscience, Cincinnati, OH, USA), positive PCR (Cepheid XpertC. difficile/Epi) or presence of pseudomembranous colitis on colonoscopy.
Clinical data was collected from the time of diagnosis and throughout hospitalization. The primary outcome was defined as fulminant colitis with colectomy, and the secondary outcome was all-cause mortality within 30 days of diagnosis.