Isolation of<i>Clostridium difficile</i>from stored specimens and comparative susceptibility of various tissue culture cell lines to cytotoxin

Abstract

The effects of storage of stool specimens at various temperatures on recovery of Clostridium difficile and detection of cytotoxin were determined. At 0°C cytotoxin appeared stable, while at 5°C and 25°C there were decreases in toxin titres of 1.4 and 1.7 logs respectively after 2 days, followed by a stabilising of titres. C. difficile could be cultured for a minimum of 4 days after storage at 5°C and 25°C, and for up to 10 days if an enrichment broth was used. Five different tissue culture cell lines were compared for susceptibility to C. difficile cytotoxin. VERO cells were most susceptible followed by WI-38, Y-1, CHO and HEp2.