Article: Identification of Clostridium difficile using the API ZYM system

The use of the API ZYM system for the identification of Clostridium difficile was investigated. The enzyme profiles generated by this system readily distinguished strains of Clostridium difficile from other clostridia commonly isolated from faeces. Enzyme activity of Clostridium difficile was influenced by the composition of the culture medium but appeared to be independent of the age of the culture. Given careful standardisation of techniques the API ZYM system is a suitable alternative to conventional techniques for identification of Clostridium difficile.

Citing Articles

Improvement of Clostridium difficile isolation by heat-shock and typing of the isolated strains by SDS-PAGE.

Lahn M, Tyler G, Daubener W, HADDING U Eur J Epidemiol. 1993; 9(3):327-34.

PMID: 8405320 DOI: 10.1007/BF00146272.

Clinical evaluation of the Vitek ANI card for identification of anaerobic bacteria.

Schreckenberger P, Celig D, Janda W J Clin Microbiol. 1988; 26(2):225-30.

PMID: 3343321 PMC: 266257. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.26.2.225-230.1988.

Comparison of API ZYM system with API AN-Ident, API 20A, Minitek Anaerobe II, and RapID-ANA systems for identification of Clostridium difficile.

Head C, Ratnam S J Clin Microbiol. 1988; 26(1):144-6.

PMID: 3277989 PMC: 266224. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.26.1.144-146.1988.

Clostridium difficile: its disease and toxins.

Lyerly D, Krivan H, Wilkins T Clin Microbiol Rev. 1988; 1(1):1-18.

PMID: 3144429 PMC: 358025. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.1.1.1.

Typing of Clostridium difficile causing diarrhoea in an orthopaedic ward.

McKAY I, Coia J, Poxton I J Clin Pathol. 1989; 42(5):511-5.

PMID: 2732346 PMC: 1141959. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.42.5.511.

References

1.

Tharagonnet D, Sisson P, Roxby C, Ingham H, Selkon J . The API ZYM system in the identification of Gram-negative anaerobes. J Clin Pathol. 1977; 30(6):505-9. PMC: 476458. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.30.6.505. View

2.

Dahlback A, Wadstrom T . Evaluation of a test kit for identification of anaerobic bacteria. Med Microbiol Immunol. 1975; 161(4):239-42. DOI: 10.1007/BF02122711. View

3.

Bint A . Simple method for isolation and presumptive identification of Clostridium difficile. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg A Med Mikrobiol Infekt Parasitol. 1981; 250(1-2):142-6. View

4.

Marler L, Allen S, Siders J . Rapid enzymatic characterization of clinically encountered anaerobic bacteria with the API ZYM system. Eur J Clin Microbiol. 1984; 3(4):294-300. DOI: 10.1007/BF01977476. View

5.

Phillips K, Rogers P . Rapid detection and presumptive identification of Clostridium difficile by p-cresol production on a selective medium. J Clin Pathol. 1981; 34(6):642-4. PMC: 493640. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.34.6.642. View

6.

Hanson C, Cassorla R, Martin W . API and Minitek systems in identification of clinical isolates of anaerobic gram-negative bacilli and Clostridium species. J Clin Microbiol. 1979; 10(1):14-8. PMC: 273085. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.10.1.14-18.1979. View

7.

Humble M, King A, Phillips I . API ZYM: a simple rapid system for the detection of bacterial enzymes. J Clin Pathol. 1977; 30(3):275-7. PMC: 476372. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.30.3.275. View

8.

Slots J . Enzymatic characterization of some oral and nonoral gram-negative bacteria with the API ZYM system. J Clin Microbiol. 1981; 14(3):288-94. PMC: 271956. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.14.3.288-294.1981. View

9.

George W, Sutter V, CITRON D, Finegold S . Selective and differential medium for isolation of Clostridium difficile. J Clin Microbiol. 1979; 9(2):214-9. PMC: 272994. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.9.2.214-219.1979. View

10.

Willey S, Bartlett J . Cultures for Clostridium difficile in stools containing a cytotoxin neutralized by Clostridium sordellii antitoxin. J Clin Microbiol. 1979; 10(6):880-4. PMC: 273287. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.10.6.880-884.1979. View

11.

Levett P, Phillips K . Gas chromatographic identification of Clostridium difficile and detection of cytotoxin from a modified selective medium. J Clin Pathol. 1985; 38(1):82-5. PMC: 499077. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.38.1.82. View

Identification of Clostridium Difficile Using the API ZYM System