Clostridium difficile toxin A/B gene（C.diff）

Clostridium difficile (CD) is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus and one of the major pathogens responsible for nosocomial intestinal infections, which clinically caused approximately 15%~25% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, 50%~75% of antibiotic-associated colitis, and 95%~100% of pseudomembranous colitis [1]. As an opportunistic pathogen, C. difficile could be toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains. Only the toxigenic strains have been reported pathogenicity to date due to the C. difficile toxin A (tcdA) and cytotoxin B (tcdB). The Clostridium difficile (CD) was accordingly classified as type A−B−, type A−B+, and type A+B+ [2]. The type A−B− is a non-toxigenic strain without virulent genes, type A−B+ and A+B+ are toxigenic strains with toxin genes. CDI might result in diarrhea or life-threatening conditions in severe cases. A simple and rapid detection assay for C. difficile [3,4] is important for aiding clinical diagnosis and patient management.

A negative result does not rule out Clostridium difficile infection and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment, or other management decisions. A positive result does not rule out bacterial infection or other co-infection outside Clostridium Difficile.