Evaluation of the rapid loop‐mediated isothermal amplification assay Illumigene for diagnosis of C lostridium difficile in an outbreak situation

An outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection ( CDI ) at Höglandet Hospital Eksjö in southern Sweden in 2011 was mainly due to a multidrug‐resistant PCR ribotype 046 (30% of all samples). Diagnostics used routinely was the Vidas CDAB assay, but to control the outbreak the rapid loop‐mediated isothermal amplification ( LAMP ) assay Illumigene was introduced and both techniques were compared to Toxigenic culture ( TC ) prospectively. The LAMP assay had a superior sensitivity, that is, 98% compared to 79% for the Vidas CDAB assay. Most importantly, the mean turn‐around‐time from collecting sample to result was reduced from 59 h to 2 h enabling early isolation of patients and effective hygiene precautions. This may potentially decrease the morbidity and nosocomial transmissions of C . difficile .