Pseudomembranous colitis caused by toxin A-negative/toxin B-positive variant strain of Clostridium difficile

We report the first case of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) due to a toxin A-negative, toxin B-positive strain (toxin A variant strain) of Clostridium difficile in Japan. The toxin A variant strain of C. difficile is capable of causing PMC and is undetectable in clinical laboratories that use only to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy 2003-12, Vol.9 (4), p.351-354
Main Authors: Toyokawa, Masahiro, Ueda, Akiko, Tsukamoto, Hisako, Nishi, Isao, Horikawa, Masayuki, Sunada, Atsuko, Asari, Seishi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Bacterial Proteins
Bacterial Toxins - genetics
Bacterial Toxins - metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Clostridium difficile - genetics
Clostridium difficile - metabolism
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - diagnosis
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - microbiology
Enterotoxins - genetics
Enterotoxins - metabolism
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Genetic Variation
Humans
Immunoassay
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Other diseases. Semiology
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pseudomembranous colitis
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
Toxin A immunoassay
Toxin A-negative/toxin B-positive Clostridium difficile
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Summary:We report the first case of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) due to a toxin A-negative, toxin B-positive strain (toxin A variant strain) of Clostridium difficile in Japan. The toxin A variant strain of C. difficile is capable of causing PMC and is undetectable in clinical laboratories that use only toxin A immunoassays for C. difficile testing. If C. difficile-associated diarrhea is clinically suspected and toxin A is not detected, then the possibility of a toxin A variant strain should be considered, and further diagnostic testing, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for the detection of C. difficile toxin genes should be performed.
ISSN:1341-321X
1437-7780
DOI:10.1007/s10156-003-0269-Z