Clostridioides difficile Infection: Overview, Laboratory Tests, and Updated Guidelines

Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1 hour(s)
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours -
  General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 1 hour(s)

Objectives

• Discuss the characteristics and properties of the Clostridioides difficile bacterium to include its presence in the intestinal tract, toxins A and B, and the aggressive 027 strain.
• Describe the health care facts and statistics on Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).
• Recognize the symptoms and severity of CDI. Differentiate mild to moderate, severe, fulminant and recurrent CDI’s.
• Differentiate mild to moderate, severe, fulminant and recurrent CDI’s.
• Identify the causes, risk factors and complications of CDI. Explain antibiotic-associated CDI.
• Describe the treatments and prevention of CDI and discuss the most effective antibiotic treatments.
• Discuss the differential diagnosis of CDI and the various types of laboratory tests available.
• Give an overview of the commercially-available laboratory tests for CDI.
• Summarize the latest updated IDSA/SHEA guidelines and recommendations on the multistep algorithm for diagnosis, laboratory testing and treatment of CDI.

Course Outline

• Clostridioides difficile Infection
• Clostridioides difficile: The Bacterium
• Clostridioides difficile Strains and Toxins
• Emerging New Clostridioides difficile Strain: “The 027 Strain”
• Which of the following describe(s) the Clostridioides difficile bacterium?
• Pathogenic C diff strains can produce multiple toxins. Which statement(s) is (are) correct regarding these toxins?
• A hypervirulent strain, commonly referred to as "strain 027" is an aggressive strain of Clostridioides difficile that produces more toxins and is more...
• CDI: Healthcare Facts and Statistics
• CDI: Healthcare Facts and Statistics
• CDI: Symptoms and Severity
• CDI: Symptoms and Severity
• CDI: Symptoms and Severity (continued)
• CDI: Symptoms and Severity (continued)
• When describing CDI, which of the following statements is (are) correct?
• Using white blood cell counts and creatinine levels may help clinicians classify the severity of CDI. If the white blood cell count is <15,000 and ...
• The risk of a recurrence of CDI is usually higher if the individual is older than 65 and taking other antibiotics while being treated for CDI.
• CDI: Causes, Risk Factors, and Complications
• CDI: Causes, Risk Factors, and Complications
• CDI: Risk Factors for CDI
• CDI: Complications of CDI
• Which statement(s) is (are) true relative to the cause of CDI?
• CDI: Treatment and Prevention
• CDI: Treatment
• CDI: Prevention
• Which statement is not true relative to the treatment of CDI?
• Diagnosis of CDI: Laboratory Methods
• Diagnosis of CDI: Overview and Challenges
• Diagnosis of CDI: Overview and Challenges (continued)
• Traditionally, CDI is diagnosed in a patient by using which of the following?
• Diagnosis of CDI: Laboratory Methods
• Diagnosis of CDI: Laboratory Methods (continued)
• Diagnosis of CDI: Laboratory Methods (continued)
• Laboratory-based tests to help diagnose CDI typically examine a serum or blood sample for certain toxins and/or specific enzyme antigen produced by th...
• Fill in the blank: The cell culture _______________ assay analyzes the effects of the C diff toxin on human cells grown in a culture. This assay has i...
• Match the laboratory method with the method description.
• Laboratory Methods: Overview of Diagnostic Approach
• Laboratory Methods: Diagnostic Approach
• CDI should be suspected in a patient with acute diarrhea (≥3 loose stools in 24 hours) with no obvious explanation for diarrhea, especially with...
• Which statement(s) is (are) true when discussing the approach to diagnosing CDI?
• CDI: Commercially-available Laboratory Tests
• Commercially-Available Tests: Overview
• Commercially-Available Tests: The Xpect C Difficile Test
• The Xpect® C. Difficile Toxin A/B Test (continued)
• The Xpect® C. Difficile Toxin A/B Test (continued)
• Commercially-available testing for CDI currently favors the employment of a rapid, technologically simple, and low-cost assay.
• The following information correctly describes the Xpect® C difficile Toxin A/B test.
• Commercially-Available Tests: The C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE®
• The C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® (continued)
• The C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® (continued)
• The C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE® (continued)
• Which of the following selection(s) describe the C Diff Quik Chek Complete® test?
• A C Diff Quik Chek Complete® test result showed vertical blue lines on both the "Ag line" and "Toxin line" with a vertical dotted blue line on th...
• Updated Guidelines and Recommendations
• Overview and summary of IDSA/SHEA guidelines
• Updated IDSA/SHEA Guidelines/Recommendations: Multistep Algorithm Diagnostic Testing and Treatment Recommendations.
• What key changes are included in the newly updated IDSA and SHEA guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of CDI?
• Which of the following are recommended IDSA/SHEA guidelines on diagnostic testing for CDI?
• Summary
• Summary
• References
• References

Additional Information