What is a typical laboratory finding in patients with C. difficile infection?

In patients with Clostridium difficile infection, a common laboratory finding is the presence of fecal leukocytes. This indicates an inflammatory response occurring in the colon as a result of the infection. The presence of leukocytes in stool generally suggests a colitis, which is consistent with the pathology of C. difficile infection, where the bacteria produce toxins leading to inflammation and damage to the colonic mucosa.

Fecal leukocytes can be detected through a stool test and help support the diagnosis of colitis, as the immune system responds to the toxins produced by C. difficile. While other tests, such as detecting the bacteria or its toxins in stool, are more specific for diagnosing C. difficile infection, the presence of fecal leukocytes serves as an important indicator of the inflammatory process associated with the disease.

In contrast, other options like elevated serum glucose, increased protease activity, or bleeding diathesis are not typical findings related to C. difficile infection and do not reflect the inflammatory aspect of colitis, making fecal leukocytes a typical and relevant laboratory finding in this context.