A recent article in MLO characterized Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and C. difficile infection (CDI) as intestinal diseases with similar clinical features but with very different causes. Both are the result of an imbalanced intestinal microbiota.

In CDI, the microbiota becomes dysbiotic after medications/conditions disrupt the microbiota, setting up the possibility of disease; meanwhile, in IBD, the cause of the dysbiosis is unclear, but significant disruption of the microbiota is evident. IBD patients are more likely to be colonized with C. difficile and develop CDI than the general population.

Due to similar clinical features and high rates of CDI carriage in IBD patients, it can be difficult to distinguish a true CDI infection from an IBD flare. Inflammatory markers, such as fecal lactoferrin, help identify severe IBD and CDI but do not distinguish between the diseases. Microbiology and gastroenterology societies now recommend an algorithm approach that consists of PCR or GDH screen coupled with toxin testing for accurate diagnosis of CDI.

The C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® coupled with the LEUKO EZ VUE® assay, can help identify CDI in IBD patients. The LEUKO EZ VUE® assay detects intestinal inflammation in less than 10 mins, while the C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® assay provides both the GDH and toxin results. High-quality results from these assays aid in tailoring clinical decisions that improve treatment outcomes, support antimicrobial stewardship efforts, and comply with recommended guidelines.

Reference: Lee, J.Y., & Lyerly, D.M. MLO – Medical Laboratory Observer. Clostridium difficile in inflammatory bowel disease. https://www.mlo-online.com/diagnostics/article/21257668/clos...; published online February 23, 2022

Read the full article in MLO here

For enquiries on Techlab and the C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® test as well as the LEUKO EZ VUE® assay, feel free to reach out to our sales representative at [email protected] or call +65 98254866