METHODS, REAGENTS AND KITS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIAL INFECTION

摘要

Novel reagents and methods for the detection and quantification of total bacterial load in a sample are described. These reagents and methods are based on the amplification and detection of a bacterial 16S rRNA nucleic acid. Also described herein are novel reagents and methods for the detection and quantification of Clostrodium difficile infection (CDI). The reagents and assays allow for the normalization, based for example on the amount of bacterial 16S rRNA nucleic acid, of the bacterial load of bacteria of interest, including opportunistic bacteria such as pathogenic Clostrodium difficile, in various samples such as stool, feces, anal swab or rectal swab. Methods for analytical assessment of the acuteness of CDI based on the normalized bacterial load of pathogenic Clostrodium difficile are also described.