Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Clostridium difficile: isolation and characteristics

S Hafiz, C L Oakley

    Journal of Medical Microbiology
    |May 1, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    The collagenase (kappa toxin) of Cl. welchii type A.

    The Journal of pathology and bacteriology·2010
    Same author

    Anaphylaxis after Injection of Tetanus Toxoid.

    British medical journal·2010
    Same author

    The toxins of Clostridium oedematiens (Cl. novyi).

    Journal of general microbiology·2010
    Same author

    The assay of antitoxins.

    The Biochemical journal·2010
    Same author

    Lymphomatosis: (Section of Comparative Medicine).

    Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2009
    Same author

    The Constituents of Normal Human Blood.

    Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2009
    Same journal

    Suggestive associations between genetically predicted gut microbiota and endometriosis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

    Journal of medical microbiology·2026
    Same journal

    Whole-genome sequencing of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> from maternal and neonatal clinical isolates in Kuwait.

    Journal of medical microbiology·2026
    Same journal

    The Dynamiker cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay is an accurate, rapid and cost effective test comparable to culture for detection of cryptococcal meningitis.

    Journal of medical microbiology·2026
    Same journal

    R pyocin sensitivity of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> clinical isolates from different disease types.

    Journal of medical microbiology·2026
    Same journal

    Investigation of the efficacy of high-dose flucloxacillin therapy for borderline oxacillin-resistant (BORSA) <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infections of <i>Galleria mellonella</i> larvae.

    Journal of medical microbiology·2026
    Same journal

    Corrigendum: Cases of high consequence infectious diseases identified in the UK, 1962-2023.

    Journal of medical microbiology·2026
    See all related articles

    Clostridium difficile isolation is optimized using Reinforced Clostridial Medium (RCM) with phenol or p-cresol. This study details its growth, fermentation, and toxin production for better identification.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Bacteriology

    Background:

    • Clostridium difficile is an important human pathogen.
    • Efficient isolation and identification methods are crucial for clinical and research settings.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To optimize the isolation medium for Clostridium difficile.
    • To characterize the biochemical and antigenic properties of Clostridium difficile strains.

    Main Methods:

    • Cultivation of Clostridium difficile in Reinforced Clostridial Medium (RCM) supplemented with varying concentrations of cresols and phenol.
    • Assessment of growth characteristics, including "cornfield" morphology.
    • Fermentation studies using various carbohydrates.
    • Detection of enzyme production (hyaluronidase, deoxyribonuclease) and biochemical reactions (nitrate reduction, indole production, gelatin liquefaction).

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Antigenic analysis of bacterial strains.

    • Main Results:

    • Reinforced Clostridial Medium (RCM) with 0.2% phenol or p-cresol is recommended for Clostridium difficile isolation.
    • Characteristic "cornfield" growth observed in RCM.
    • Specific fermentation patterns identified: acid and gas production from glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose, raffinose, aesculin, and mannitol; acid only from maltose, sucrose, glycogen, soluble starch, and sorbitol.
    • Lactose and rice starch were not fermented; DL-methionine was not utilized.
    • Nitrate reduced to nitrite; hydrogen sulfide and indole were not produced.
    • Gelatin liquefaction observed, with variable incubation times.
    • Hyaluronidase produced, but deoxyribonuclease was not.
    • Evidence suggests lethal toxin production.
    • Strains exhibited shared and strain-specific antigens.

    Conclusions:

    • Optimized RCM formulation enhances Clostridium difficile isolation.
    • Detailed biochemical profile aids in differentiating Clostridium difficile from other bacteria.
    • Understanding toxin production and antigenic properties is vital for pathogenesis and vaccine development.