Stool caproic acid for screening of Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is the prime etiologic agent in the production of pseudomembranous colitis by its powerful cytotoxin. The most common test for the toxin is a tissue culture method with neutralization of cytopathic effect by a C. difficile antiserum. This method is expensive and requires a minimum of 72 hours before results can be obtained. Attempts to create a rapid method, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, latex agglutination, and fluorescent antibody test are fraught with many problems. This report describes a rapid method for the identification of C. difficile, using gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) for the demonstration of caproic acid, a product of the organisms fatty acid metabolism.