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Updated: May 16, 2026
A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: May 25, 2017
Comparison of two selective media for the recovery of Clostridium difficile from environmental surfaces
K A Hill1, J Collins, L Wilson
1Microbiology Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. kerry.hill@nuth.nhs.uk
Abstract:
Two culture media were compared for their ability to isolate Clostridium difficile from environmental sites within a UK hospital. The media were cefoxitin-cycloserine-egg yolk agar plus lysozyme (CCEY/L) and chromID C. difficile. A wide range of environmental surfaces was sampled using sterile sponges (Polywipes) and these were inoculated on to both media. C. difficile was recovered from 105 of 496 sites (21%) using a combination of both media. The sensitivity of chromID C. difficile was 87.6% compared with 26.6% for CCEY/L (P < 0.0001). chromID C. difficile performed significantly better than CCEY/L for the recovery of C. difficile from the environment.
