Clostridium difficile Culture Medium Oxygen Scavenging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting Clostridium difficile environmental contamination are cumbersome and require anaerobic culture conditions and microbiological expertise, limiting their ease of use and accessibility in healthcare settings.
Innovation Solution
A culture medium containing thioglycolic acid and L-cystine that allows for the growth of Clostridium difficile under aerobic conditions, facilitating sensitive and selective detection without the need for anaerobic conditions, using a nutrient medium with Brucella broth and additional components to promote growth and neutralize oxygen, enabling easy preparation and minimal expertise requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If anaerobic culture conditions are used to culture Clostridium difficile, then sensitivity of detection is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring specialized equipment and microbiological expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the oxygen parameter from strictly anaerobic to aerobic conditions by incorporating oxygen-scavenging substances (thioglycolic acid and L-cystine) into the culture medium. This allows C. difficile to be cultured under simple aerobic conditions while maintaining detection sensitivity, eliminating the need for complex anaerobic equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (thioglycolic acid and L-cystine) that act as oxygen scavengers in the culture medium. These intermediaries consume oxygen and create localized anaerobic conditions within the aerobic environment, enabling C. difficile growth without requiring external anaerobic equipment
2Measurement precision
If anaerobic culture conditions are used to culture Clostridium difficile, then detection sensitivity is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to requiring microbiological expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the oxygen requirement parameter from anaerobic to aerobic by using oxygen-scavenging chemicals in the medium. This allows standard incubators to replace specialized anaerobic chambers, making the procedure accessible to personnel without advanced microbiological training
Solution Approach 2:
The culture medium itself provides the anaerobic environment through self-contained oxygen-scavenging chemicals (thioglycolic acid and L-cystine). The medium autonomously creates suitable growth conditions without requiring external anaerobic equipment or expert intervention to maintain anaerobic conditions
3Measurement precision
If standard anaerobic culture methods are used, then detection sensitivity is maintained, but manufacturing precision and selectivity worsen due to difficulty in distinguishing C. difficile from other anaerobes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized selective environment within the culture medium by incorporating specific nutrients and oxygen-scavenging substances that create conditions favorable for C. difficile but unfavorable for other anaerobes. The medium's chemical composition provides local selectivity without requiring complex selective agents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the oxygen parameter to aerobic conditions with oxygen scavenging, which creates a unique selective environment that favors C. difficile growth while inhibiting other anaerobic organisms. This parameter change provides inherent selectivity that simplifies identification
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The medium provides a cost-effective and sensitive method for detecting C. difficile from environmental samples, matching the sensitivity of standard anaerobic methods and reducing the need for specialized equipment or expertise, with improved selectivity and recovery rates compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
amounts of thioglycolic and L-cystine effective to consume oxygen in the culture medium and facilitate growth of Clostridium difficile
Data Source
AI summary
A culture medium for culturing Clostridium difficile under aerobic culture conditions, the medium includes a nutrient medium that promotes growth of Clostridium difficile and amounts of thioglycolic and L-cystine effective to consume oxygen in the culture medium and facilitate growth of Clostridium difficile.