Multiplex PCR method for detection of Clostridium difficile tcdA, tcdB, cdtA, and cdtB and internal in-frame deletion of tcdC

A multiplex PCR method was developed for the detection of Clostridium difficile toxin genes tcdA, tcdB, ctdA, and cdtB and the major in-frame deletion types (18, 39, and 54 bp) of tcdC. The method has high specificity for PCR ribotype 027 and may identify other C. difficile strains of clinical and epidemiological importance.