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Clostridium septicum

  • General information

    • the following information is not yet verified
      Taxonomy
      Family: Clostridiaceae

      Natural habitats
      Ubiquitous in nature, being found in the soil and feces from animals, especially ruminants.
      Is rarely isolated from feces of healthy people

      Clinical significance.
      This bacterium is the principal cause of trauma-associated gas gangrene and their incidence increases dramatically in times of war, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other mass casualty conditions.

      The clinical importance of recognizing C. septicum bacteremia and starting appropiate treatment immediately cannot be overemphasized.

      Patients with this condition are usually gravely ill and may have metastatic spread to distant anatomic sites, resulting in spontaneous myonecrosis.

      Mortality rates are very high. Clostridium septicum isolated from blood cultures may indicate cancer or other diseases of the colon.

  • Gram stain

    • the following information is not yet verified
      Gram positive (Gram negative in older cultures) straight or curved

      0.6-1.9 x 1.9-35.0 µm,

      occurring singly or in pairs.

      Cells may be extremely pleomorphic under certain conditions

      Spores often in "lemon"forms
      Spores oval / subterminal
      Swelling of the cells positive

  • Culture characteristics

    • the following information is not yet verified

      Obligate anaerobic

      BBAØ: colonies are 1-5 mm in diameter, beta-hemolytic, slightly raised, translucent, gray, glossy, circular, with irregular to rhizoid margins,

      often swarming.

  • Characteristics

  • References

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