Clostridium perfringens Characteristics Symptoms v Gram Positive o

Clostridium perfringens Characteristics Symptoms v Gram - Positive o Clostridial Food Poisoning v Shape – Bacillus o Longer incubation period v Motility – None o Nausea, abdominal pain, watery diarrhea v Oxygen Requirements o Myonecrosis / “Gas Gangrene” Obligate anaerobe o Incubation 1 -4 days v Catalase – Negative o Severe pain at the site of the wound, feels like heavy v Forms endospores pressure, edema, discoloration, hemorrhagic bullae, v Hemolysis – Forms a double zone of extensive hydrogen and carbon dioxide released at wound hemolysis site “gas” causing crepitus v Virulence Factors o Mortality = 60 -90% v Alpha Toxin o Mostly caused by alpha toxin v Is a phospholipase and destroys o Might also affect the uterus after childbirth or abortions cell membranes of RBCs, WBCs, preformed with non-sterile instruments (think non-medical and muscle cells facility) v Causes clotting and ischemia o Might lead to Clostridial Toxic Shock Syndrome v Theta Toxin v Destroys cholesterol in cell Diagnosis membranes killing cells v Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin § Culture and identification, NAAT (CPE) Treatment v Increases intracellular calcium in enterocytes causing fluid loss and ü Tissue wounds should be debrided diarrhea immediately v Heat-labile Epidemiology ü All open wounds should be irrigated, and Risk Groups cleaned, and healed properly Ø Spores found in soil ü Remove all necrotic tissue Ø Can be normal flora of gut ü Penicillin+Clindamycin Transmission q Direct contact with endospores especially in open wounds q Ingestion of endospores, bacteria, or toxins