Overview

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global concern causing significant mortality and morbidity as well as spiralling healthcare costs worldwide. Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea in industrialized countries. In North America, C. difficile is present in 13 of every 1,000 hospital inpatients and the estimated annual economic burden is approximately $3.2 billion.

The Problem

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is commonly associated with prior exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics that compromise a patient's normal gut flora, allowing C. difficile to proliferate and cause toxin-mediated disease. This can proceed to serious, life-threatening conditions such as Pseudomembranous Colitis (PMC).

Consequences

CDI is a consequence of antibiotic use, which is exacerbated by inappropriate and widespread use of broad-spectrum agents. Any steps that can be implemented to effectively target narrow-spectrum antibiotic therapy would have a positive impact on the down-stream incidence of CDI as well as a substantial reduction of associated healthcare costs.

In addition, diagnostics for CDI are challenging. Traditional toxin A/B EIA tests have been identified as sub-optimal in performance and not recommended as single-line tests by various national guidelines.

More recently, molecular-based tests have become commercially available, but the latest data suggests these tests are not specific enough to be used as single-line tests. There are real concerns that these tests may overdiagnose CDI, resulting in inappropriate antimicrobial therapy and an increased likelihood of a more severe re-infection.

Rapid Testing

The latest guidelines recommend an algorithmic testing approach where glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) tests or molecular technology are used to screen patients and a sensitive toxin A/B test is used to confirm disease.

The unique C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® test from Abbott (developed and manufactured by TechLab® Inc.) detects GDH and toxin A/B simultaneously in less than 30 minutes. This test has been shown by multiple peer-reviewed studies from North America, Europe and Asia to be an extremely effective tool to detect CDI.

Abbott C. diff QUIK CHEK COMPLETE

QUIK CHEK COMPLETE is a rapid, accurate, and sensitive methods of screening for C. difficile are necessary to maintain good infection control measures and improve patient outcomes

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