Investigating Clostridium difficile.

Clostridium difficile is one of the leading health-care-associated infections in the UK and has a significant clinical and economic impact. Optimal laboratory testing for this pathogen is controversial and interpretation of results can lead to confusion. In the context of the clinical syndrome of C. difficile infection, this article reviews disease presentation, the diagnostic tests available, and their translation into information that can assist clinical management at the bedside.