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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Published on: September 14, 2013

Clostridium difficile.

Scott Curry¹

¹University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA. currysr@upmc.edu <currysr@upmc.edu>

Clinics in Laboratory Medicine

|June 2, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a growing hospital concern. Current diagnostic tests lack sufficient accuracy and speed, necessitating further research into epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for this resilient pathogen.

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Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment

Published on: September 14, 2013

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291

Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291

Published on: December 10, 2016

Area of Science:

Infectious Diseases
Microbiology
Epidemiology

Background:

Clostridium difficile has re-emerged as a significant hospital-acquired infection since 2001.
The changing epidemiology and increasing incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) present a growing public health challenge.
The significance of community-acquired C. difficile remains largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

To discuss the evolving epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection.
To review the clinical presentation and pathogenesis of CDI.
To highlight current challenges in laboratory diagnosis, treatment, and management of recurrent CDI.

Main Methods:

Review of current literature on Clostridium difficile infection.
Analysis of epidemiological trends and diagnostic advancements.
Discussion of clinical management strategies and relapse factors.

Main Results:

No single diagnostic test for C. difficile infection offers sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and rapid turnaround time.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based testing has improved diagnosis but has limitations.
The epidemiology and impact of community-acquired C. difficile require further investigation.

Conclusions:

Effective diagnosis and management of Clostridium difficile infection remain challenging.
Ongoing research is crucial to address diagnostic limitations and treatment failures.
Further epidemiological studies are needed to understand the full scope of C. difficile acquisition.