Bezlotoxumab effect on the positivity of C.difficile toxin detection

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Investigation of the effect of addition of bezlotoxumab to C. difficile toxin positive faeces on the positivity of toxin detection assays

  • IRAS ID

    242472

  • Contact name

    Mark Wilcox

  • Contact email

    mark.wilcox@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Leeds

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 4 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Investigation of the effect of addition of bezlotoxumab to C. difficile toxin positive faeces on the positivity of toxin detection assays.

    Bezlotoxumab, an antibody, works by neutralising the toxins produced by the bacteria Clostridium difficile. Patients are diagnosed as having Clostridium difficile infection by sending faecal samples to the laboratory for testing. This study aims to determine if the addition of bezlotoxumab to faecal samples will give a negative result when tested using these routine assays.

    Methods:
    We will collect 10 faecal samples that have previously given a positive toxin test result and add bexlotoxumab to them prior to repeating the tests.

    Consent from the participants is not required as we will be using residual diagnostic samples and will not be collecting any clinical data. All samples will be anonymised before being handed to the researcher. This work will be completed within 6 months.

  • REC name

    North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/NW/0223

  • Date of REC Opinion

    26 Mar 2018

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion