Background
Culturing is generally considered to be the gold standard for detecting Vibrio cholerae in stool, though it is not always feasible in resource-limited settings. The Crystal VC dipstick test allows for rapid stool testing for the diagnosis of cholera in the field. However, previous studies have found low specificities (49%–79%) associated with direct testing of stool for cholera using this kit when compared to culturing.
Methods
In the present study conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2013, we compare direct testing using the Crystal VC dipstick test and testing after enrichment for 6-hours in Alkaline Peptone Water (APW) to bacterial culture as the gold standard. Samples positive by dipstick but negative by culture were also tested using PCR.
Results
Stool was collected from 125 patients. The overall specificities of the direct testing and testing after 6-hour enrichment in APW compared to bacterial culture were 91.8% and 98.4% (p=0.125) respectively, and the sensitivities were 65.6% and 75.0% (p=0.07), respectively.
Conclusion
The increase in the sensitivity of the Crystal VC kit with the use of the 6 hour enrichment step in APW compared to direct testing was marginally significant. The Crystal VC dipstick was found to have a much higher specificity than previously reported (91–98%). Therefore this method provides a promising screening tool for cholera outbreak surveillance in resource limited settings where elimination of false positive results is critical.
Abstract. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age globally. The time patients and caregivers spend at a health facility for severe diarrhea presents the opportunity to deliver water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions. We recently developed Cholera-Hospital-Based Intervention for 7 days (CHoBI7), a 1-week hospital-based handwashing with soap and water treatment intervention, for household members of cholera patients. To investigate if this intervention could lead to sustained WASH practices, we conducted a follow-up evaluation of 196 intervention household members and 205 control household members enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of the CHoBI7 intervention 6 to 12 months post-intervention. Compared with the control arm, the intervention arm had four times higher odds of household members' handwashing with soap at a key time during 5-hour structured observation (odds ratio [OR]: 4.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.61, 8.49) (18% versus 50%) and a 41% reduction in households in the World Health Organization very high-risk category for stored drinking water (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.96) (58% versus 34%) 6 to 12 months post-intervention. Furthemore, 71% of observed handwashing with soap events in the intervention arm involved the preparation and use of soapy water, which was promoted during the intervention, compared to 9% of control households. These findings demonstrate that the hospital-based CHoBI7 intervention can lead to significant increases in handwashing with soap practices and improved stored drinking water quality 6 to 12 months post-intervention.
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