Biohazard Spore Monitor Detects Clostridium Difficile Superbug

An airborne bacterial spore monitor is capable of detecting the hypervirulent bacteria Clostridium difficile, responsible for 15,000 to 20,000 fatalities annually.

The BSM-2000 System continuously samples air at a rate of 100 liters per minute, and uses heat to "pop” the airborne bacterial spores, releasing a chemical called dipicolinic acid which is unique to bacterial spores. The released acid reacts with a sensor--composed of amacrocyclic ligand bonded to terbium--triggering luminescence under ultraviolet (UV light). The degree of luminescence is directly correlated to the number of spores captured, thus giving a positive result if the captured spore count surpasses the threshold set on the device. The system is designed for constant and unattended monitoring of public spaces. The BSM-2000 System is a product of Universal Detection Technology (UNDT, Los Angeles, CA, USA), and is based on technology licensed from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, Washington, DC, USA).


"The BSM-2000's detection method for detecting anthrax can also be used for detecting C. difficile, which is also a spore forming bacteria,” said Amir Ettehadieh, B.A., director of research and development at UNDT. "The BSM-2000 can effectively and cheaply monitor an environment such has a hospital or nursing home for the presence of this superbug.”

C. difficile is a species of Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Clostridium, an anaerobic, spore-forming family of rods (bacillus). C. difficile is the most serious cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and can lead to pseudomembranous colitis, often resulting from eradication of the normal gut flora by antibiotics. When this happens, C. difficile bacteria, which naturally reside in the body, become overgrown, releasing toxins that can cause bloating, constipation, and diarrhea with abdominal pain, which may become severe. Latent symptoms often mimic some flu-like symptoms. Discontinuation of causative antibiotic treatment is often curative; in more serious cases, oral administration of metronidazole or vancomycin is the treatment of choice.

Related Links:
Universal Detection Technology
U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration