PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Levett, P N
TI  - Detection of Clostridium difficile in faeces by direct gas liquid chromatography.
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.37.2.117
DP  - 1984 Feb 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 117--119
VI  - 37
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/37/2/117.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/37/2/117.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol1984 Feb 01; 37
AB  - Stool specimens examined for the presence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin were screened by gas liquid chromatography for the presence of volatile fatty acids and p-cresol. Twenty seven of 110 (25%) stools yielded C difficile or cytotoxin; iso-valeric acid was detected in 63/110 (57%) and iso-caproic acid in 18/110 (16%) stools. Para-cresol was found in 24/71 (34%) stools examined. Iso-valeric acid was detected in 85% of stools positive for C difficile, whereas iso-caproic acid (41%) and p-cresol (52%) were found in much lower numbers of C difficile-positive stools. It is concluded that gas chromatographic detection of volatile fatty acids or p-cresol in faeces are not satisfactory screening tests for the presence of C difficile.