Using a dog’s superior olfactory sensitivity to identify Clostridium difficile in stools and patients: proof of principle study
BMJ 2012; 345 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e7396 (Published 13 December 2012)
Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e7396
“It is feasible to use a dog to detect Clostridium difficile in stool samples and in patients. The dog’s diagnostic accuracy with stool samples suggests that immediate identification of C difficile is possible. Moreover, our data suggest that the same may be true for the rapid diagnosis of C difficile infection on clinical wards. For the purposes of detection the dog did not need a stool sample or physical contact with patients. It would seem dogs can detect C difficile in the air surrounding patients. In addition, dogs are quick and efficient: patients in a hospital ward can be screened for the presence of C difficile infection in less than 10 minutes.” Read entire study below to find more information on methods and results.