USA, june 2009- The FDA has approved a new assay which utilizes the GeneXpert platform and detects Toxin B DNA in less then an hour. The test is very sensitive and specific, and allows precise use of appropriate anti-C. diff. antibiotics early in care.
Most US hospitals continue to use the insensitive EIA tests for C. difficile despite the introduction of superior tests. From the perspective of the patient, having the correct diagnosis is highly desirable, and allows the physician to build a more secure relationship. C. diff causes about 30,000 deaths annually in the US. In Québec, the latest results published by the INSPQ, National Institute of Quebec Public Health, revealed that the rate of death associated to C.difficile in 2008 is still 15%.
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