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Impaired detection of faecal verocytotoxin in the presence ofClostridium difficile cytotoxin in patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome

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Abstract

Three cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with infection with verocytotoxin producingEscherichia coli are described. The concomitant presence ofClostridium difficile cytotoxin in the patients' stool impaired the detection of free faecal verocytotoxin. Stool specimens containingClostridium difficile cytotoxin should thus be considered negative for verocytotoxin only after neutralisation of theClostridium difficile cytotoxin with antitoxin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio di Batteriologia e Micologia Medica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    I. Luzzi

  2. Laboratorio di Ultrastrutture, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    F. Minelli & A. Caprioli

  3. Divisione di Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Istituto di Ricerca Scientifica, Salita S. Onofrio 4, 00100, Rome, Italy

    A. Gianviti

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  1. I. Luzzi
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  2. F. Minelli
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  3. A. Gianviti
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  4. A. Caprioli
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Luzzi, I., Minelli, F., Gianviti, A. et al. Impaired detection of faecal verocytotoxin in the presence ofClostridium difficile cytotoxin in patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 934–936 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01962378

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01962378

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