Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Clostridium difficile.

• Pseudomembranous colitis

Pure culture or 1.0mL frozen stool sample.

N/A

Send cultures as growth on culture medium or in transport medium.  Send frozen stool samples on dry ice.

Shipping of specimens shall be done by a TDG certified individual in accordance with TDG regulations. For additional information regarding classification of specimens for the purposes of shipping, consult either Part 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.

For additional guidance on the transport of infectious substances in other languages, please click on the link below.

http://www.who.int/ihr/capacity-strengthening/infectious-substances/en/

N/A

Completed Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections Requisition.

N/A

Susceptibility testing is performed at the discretion of the lab by Etest, broth microdilution or Vitek2. Results are interpreted according to breakpoints published by CLSI, FDA or EuCAST.

12 Calendar days, however if growth is slow 19 calendar days.

1. CLSI. Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, 26th informational supplement, M100-S26. 2016. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.
2. The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EuCAST). Breakpoint tables for interpretation of MICs and zone diameters. Version 6.0, 2016. http//www.eucast.org.

Fact Sheet – Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)

Pathogen Safety Data Sheets: Infectious Substances – Clostridium difficile

Case Definitions for Communicable Diseases under National Surveillance - 2009 - Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea

C. difficile (Clostridium difficile)