Table 1:
Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis
| First author | Publication year | Preformed time | Country | Sample type | Age range | Hospitalized (H) or outpatient (OP) | Detection method | Sample size | Toxigenic C. difficile No. | HA/CA No. | M/F No. | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadeghifard | 2010 | 2002–2006 | Iran | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H | Cytotoxicity assay | 942 | 57 | - | 30/27 | (16) |
| Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad | 2011 | UN | Iran | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H and OP | ELISA | 356 | 19 | - | 13/6 | (17) |
| Nasri | 2012 | 2009–2010 | Iran | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H | ELISA | 162 | 36 | - | 24/12 | (18) |
| Jalali | 2012 | 2010–2011 | Iran | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H | Molecular | 86 | 17 | 13/4 | 9/8 | (19) |
| Goudarzi | 2013 | 2010–2011 | Iran | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H | Molecular | 350 | 75 | - | 39/36 | (20) |
| Farshad | 2013 | 2012 | Iran | Nosocomial diarrhea | No limit | H | Cytotoxicity assay and ELISA | 122 | 9 | 9/- | 5/4 | (21) |
| Azizi | 2013 | 2010 | Iran | Nosocomial diarrhea | No limit | H | Molecular | 98 | 15 | - | - | (22) |
| Alinejad | 2015 | 2013–2014 | Iran | Nosocomial diarrhea | 6–60 months | H | ELISA | 38 | 8 | 8/- | 6/2 | (23) |
| Rezazadeh Zarandi | 2017 | 2014–2015 | Iran | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H | Molecular and ELISA | 233 | 11 | - | - | (24) |
| Azimirad | 2017 | 2011–2012 | Iran | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H | Molecular | 105 | 18 | - | 9/10 | (25) |
| Sandokji | 2009 | 2007–2008 | Saudi Arabia | Diarrheal stool | >2 yr | H | ELISA | 258 | 56 | 56/- | - | (26) |
| Al-Tawfiq | 2010 | 2007–2008 | Saudi Arabia | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H and OP | ELISA | 913 | 42 | 26/16 | 23/19 | (27) |
| AL-Eidan | 2013 | 2011 | Saudi Arabia | Diarrheal stool | Adult | H | ELISA | 2927 | 171 | 98/73 | - | (28) |
| Senok | 2017 | 2014–2015 | Saudi Arabia | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H and OP | Molecular | 210 | 31 | - | - | (29) |
| Jamal | 2010 | 2003–2005 | Kuwait | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H and OP | ELISA | 697 | 73 | 56/17 | - | (30) |
| Jamal | 2014 | 2012 | Kuwait | Diarrheal stool | >2 yr | OP | Molecular | 409 | 13 | -/13 | - | (31) |
| Jamal | 2015 | 2011–2013 | Kuwait | Diarrheal stool | >2 yr | OP | ELISA | 2548 | 16 | -/16 | - | (32) |
| Albert | 2016 | 2014–2015 | Kuwait | Diarrheal stool | No limit | H | Molecular | 109 | 3 | - | - | (33) |
| Alrifai | 2009 | 2004–2005 | Iraq | Nosocomial diarrhea | 1–60 months | H | ELISA | 81 | 17 | - | (34) | |
| Al-Thani | 2014 | 2011–2012 | Qatar | Diarrheal stool | >1 yr | H and OP | EIA and Molecular | 1,532 | 122 | 98/14 | 72/50 | (35) |
Abbreviations: ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; EIA: Enzyme Immunoassay; HA: hospital-acquired; CA: community-acquired; M: male; F: female.