Rapid polymerase chain reaction method for specific detection of toxigenicClostridium difficile

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Abstract
A rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of toxigenicClostridium difficile directly from fecal samples by amplification of toxin Agene fragments was investigated. The technique was applied to monitor the spread of the microorganism in a long-term care ward with a relatively high incidence of overt episodes of diarrhea. The PCR approach has several advantages over traditional methods, rapidly allowing the specific detection of toxigenicClostridium difficile strains from stool samples in both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects with toxigenic strains. This PCR method allows early detection of toxigenicClostridium difficile and could thus represent a powerful tool for the surveillance of epidemics.