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HelpTest Code CDIFS Clostridioides difficile Culture with Antimicrobial Susceptibilities, Varies
Ordering Guidance
Culture is not the preferred diagnostic test for Clostridioides difficile. For routine diagnostic testing, order CDPCR / Clostridioides difficile Toxin, PCR, Feces
Shipping Instructions
Necessary Information
Specimen source is required.
Specimen Required
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Patient Preparation: Patient should not use antacids, barium, bismuth, antidiarrheal medication, zinc oxide paste, Vagisil cream or oily laxatives prior to specimen collection.
Preferred:
Specimen Type: Preserved feces
Supplies: Culture and Sensitivity Stool Transport Vial (T058); Stool Collection Kit, Random (T635)
Container/Tube: Commercially available transport system specific for recovery of enteric pathogens from fecal specimens (15 mL of non-nutritive transport medium containing phenol red as a pH indicator, either Cary-Blair or Para-Pak C and S [T058])
Specimen Volume: Representative portion of feces; 5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect 1 gram or 5 mL fresh fecal specimen and submit in container with transport medium.
2. Place feces in preservative within 2 hours of collection.
Additional Information: Only diarrheal (ie., unformed) feces should be tested. Testing formed feces for C difficile is not clinically indicated.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 96 hours/Refrigerated 96 hours/Frozen 7 days
Acceptable:
Specimen Type: Unpreserved feces
Supplies: Stool container, Small (Random), 4 oz (T288); Stool Collection Kit, Random (T635)
Specimen Volume: Representative portion of stool
Collection Instructions: Collect fresh stool and submit representative sample in stool container.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 72 hours/Frozen 7 days
Additional Information: Only diarrheal (i.e., unformed) stool should be tested. Testing formed stool for C difficile is not clinically indicated.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient (preferred) 72 hours/Frozen 7 days
Specimen Type: Fresh tissue or biopsy
Sources: Colon
Supplies: Anaerobe Transport Tube (T588)
Specimen Volume: Entire collection, 1-2 cm(3)
Collection Instructions: Aseptically collect a 1-2 cm(3) piece of tissue whenever possible. In general, a larger piece of tissue is preferred. Submit in an anaerobic transport tube.
Specimen Stability Information: Ambient 72 hours
Useful For
Providing an isolate suitable for antimicrobial susceptibility testing to direct antimicrobial therapy of extraluminal infections and in cases of treatment failure
Reflex Tests
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANAID | Anaerobe Ident | No, (Bill Only) | No |
| RMALA | Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe | No, (Bill Only) | No |
| ISAN | Anaerobe Ident by Sequencing | No, (Bill Only) | No |
| SANA | Anaerobe Suscep per agent | No, (Bill Only) | No |
| BATTA | Anaerobe Suscep Battery | No, (Bill Only) | No |
Special Instructions
Method Name
Conventional Culture Technique with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by Agar Dilution
Reporting Name
C. difficile Culture + SuscSpecimen Type
VariesSpecimen Minimum Volume
Stool: 1 gram or 5 mL
Tissue: 5 mm(3)
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varies | Varies | ||
Reject Due To
| Fecal swab Specimen in Ecofix |
Reject |
Clinical Information
Clostridioides difficile can cause diarrhea and may cause pseudomembranous colitis. Overgrowth of toxin-producing C difficile in the colon leads to the production of toxins A and/or B by the organism, and subsequent diarrhea. C difficile infection should be suspected in patients with symptoms of diarrhea with risk factors such as current or recent use of antibiotics, history of C difficile infection, current or recent hospitalization or placement in a nursing home or long-term care facility, over 65 years of age, and gastric acid suppression. C difficile infection is the most common cause of diarrhea in hospitalized patients and may lead to serious complications, including sepsis, bowel perforation, and increased overall mortality (especially in elderly patients). The incidence of C difficile infection has risen in the community and in healthcare settings. While culture is not the preferred means to diagnose C difficile-associated diarrhea, culture for C difficile provides an isolate suitable for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Susceptibility testing routinely includes metronidazole and vancomycin. Routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing of C difficile isolates associated with intestinal infection is not suggested.(4,5) Recent Infectious Diseases Society of America and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines provide treatment guidance for C difficile infection based on clinical course and history rather than measured minimal inhibitory concentrations of isolates.(6) Susceptibility testing of C difficile isolates may be warranted in cases of treatment failure, or when used to guide therapy of extraluminal infections.
Note that this test does not differentiate between toxin-producing and nontoxigenic strains of C difficile.
Reference Values
No growth of Clostridioides difficile.
Susceptibility results are reported as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) in mcg/mL. Breakpoints (also known as clinical breakpoints) are used to categorize an organism as susceptible, susceptible-dose dependent, intermediate, resistant, or nonsusceptible according to breakpoint setting organizations, either the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST), as applicable.
In some instances, an interpretive category cannot be provided based on available data; therefore, the following comment will be included on the report: There are no established interpretive guidelines for agents reported without interpretations.
For information regarding CLSI and EUCAST susceptibility interpretations, see Susceptibility Interpretative Category Definitions.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Report Available
2 to 9 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
87081-C. difficile Culture
87076-Anaerobe Ident (if appropriate)
87076-Id MALDI-TOF Mass Spec Anaerobe (if appropriate)
87153-Anaerobe Ident by Sequencing (if appropriate)
87181-Anaerobe Susceptibility per agent (if appropriate)
87181 x 3-Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Anaerobic Bacteria, MIC (if appropriate)