Clostridium Septicum Research Articles

Preparation of Clostridium septicum antigen for hyperimmunization of horses using a dialyzed culture.

The preparation of toxic cultures of Clostridium septicum is described, using an apparatus with a straight dialysis tubing, where the medium is filled both into the nutrition and cultivation space of the apparatus. Using the cultivation to nutrition volume rate 1:2, mean titre of lethal antigen in filtrates 3.86 limes mortis per mL and 300 dosis lethalis minima per Lm was obtained in comparison with the values of 2.22 and 150 respectively in flask filtrates. Native filtrates of dialyzed cultures were better antigens for hyperimmunization of horses than the culture filtrates from flasks.

Arthritis caused by Clostridium septicum. A case report and review of the literature.

Arthritis caused by Clostridium septicum. A case report and review of the literature.

Clostridium septicum septicemia with identical metastatic myonecroses in a granulocytopenic patient. Infectious disease emergency

Clostridium septicum is a gram-positive, sporulating spindle-shaped rod. Gas gangrene secondary to trauma is not uncommon. However, nontraumatic clostridial infection causing myonecrosis is quite unusual. This is a unique case report of Clostridium septicum bacteremia with two simultaneously evolving metastatic foci of myonecrosis of the left arm and right thigh that developed in a patient with lymphoma when he became granulocytopenic during his hospital course.

Imipenem/cilastatin therapy of bacteremia

Imipenem/cilastatin was used to treat 135 patients with bacteremia and signs of infection. Ninety percent responded favorably. The bacteriologic eradication rate was 98 percent among the 153 isolates. Only one patient had breakthrough bacteremia and this was a susceptible Clostridium septicum. In two isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, emergence of resistance to imipenem during therapy was noted and appeared to be responsible for clinical failure. Super-infection occurred in 13 patients and was responsible for two treatment failures.

Sialidase activity in the sera of patients and rabbits with clostridial myonecrosis

The origin and nature of gas gangrene can be diagnosed exactly only by time-consuming bacteriological tests. In order to improve the diagnostic procedures, rabbits were infected with strains of Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium septicum or Clostridium sordellii. Sialidase activity was found to increase rapidly in serum; elevated creatine kinase activities were observed, too. High sialidase concentrations were found in sera (up to 1.6 mU/ml) and in tissues of wounded regions (up to 110 mU/g) of patients diagnosed to be infected with C perfringens. By inhibition of enzyme activity with antibodies specific for the sialidase from this Clostridium species, it was possible to identify the clostridial origin of the sialidase activities. In the same material from other patients supposed to suffer from gas gangrene, but where no Clostridia could be detected, significant sialidase activity was not found. Thus, sialidase may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of myonecrosis due to clostridial infection.

Metastatic nontraumatic Clostridium septicum osteomyelitis

Nontraumatic clostridial infections are rare, but need to be diagnosed and treated early or high morbidity and mortality rates result. We believe that this is the first reported case of metastatic nontraumatic Clostridium septicum osteomyelitis. Early treatment with surgical debridement and parenteral antibiotics without hyperbaric oxygen was used. An associated occult rectal malignancy was discovered and treated.

Surgical Aspects of Clostridium septicum Septicemia

Clostridium septicum is a virulent cause of gas gangrene and sepsis. Although thought to be rare, a survey of our affiliated hospitals for a recent five-year period disclosed eight cases. Seven of the eight had an occult malignant neoplasm. The eighth patient was thought to be preleukemic. All seven malignant neoplasms involved the gastrointestinal tract. Four patients were admitted with gangrene of an extremity, three with abdominal pain, and one with both. In four patients, C septicum septicemia appeared in an extremity before the underlying gastrointestinal malignant neoplasm was recognized. Four patients had surgical therapy and two survived; four received medical therapy and one survived. Patients who have C septicum septicemia should be assumed to harbor an underlying malignant neoplasm until proved otherwise.

Antibiotic susceptibility of Clostridium septicum isolated from chickens and cattle.

A total of 71 strains of Clostridium septicum isolated from chickens and cattle and 13 reference strains derived from National Collection of Type Cultures and Wellcome Research Laboratories were examined for their susceptibility to eight antibiotics. Most of the strains had relatively high susceptibility to the drugs employed showing minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.013 to 3.13 μg/ml, though some of the avian isolates were suggested to have some degree of resistance to tetraeycline as compared to the reference strains.

Stocker Calf Receiving, Vaccination and Treatment

Stocker calf receiving, vaccination, and treatment is a very important part of my practice. The successful treatment of the bovine respiratory complex in stocker calves remains one of the really big challenges in bovine practice. For blackleg we vaccinate with clostridium chauvei and septicum routinely. I feel that this 2-way vaccine is enough in our practice area. I certainly have no arguement with those who are using 7-way or other multiple strain clostridial vaccines. Several of these strains really need revaccination to be really effective and in my practice most cattle would never receive the second vaccination. We use most of the antibiotic preparations that are available to us for this use.

Sudden Death in Sheep and Goats

A bacteriological examination was made of samples from 128 cases of sudden death in sheep from 18 farms for the presence of important bacterial pathogens. Clostridial infections were present in 43 sheep (33.6%), colisepticemia in 24 (18.8%), septic pasteurellosis in 11 (8.6%), other septicemias in 10 (7.8%), 4 (3.1%) had unidentified bacterial infections, and 36 (28.1%) had no important bacteria. Clostridium perfringens types C and D accounted for 35 (34.0%) of isolates, Clostridium sordellii for 14 (13.6%), Clostridium septicum for 4 (3.9%). Escherichia coli (serotypes 078, 0144, 036, 075) accounted for 25 (24.3%) isolates, Pasteurella haemolytica for 11 (10.7%), Streptococcus spp. for 5 (4.8%), Staphylococcus aureus for 3 (2.9%), Actinomyces pyogenes for 2 (1.9%), and unidentified Gram-negative rods for 4 (3.9%).Clostridium sordellii alone or with C. perfringens may be an important pathogen in sudden mortality in sheep since it was recovered from 14 out of 128 sheep. Of 43 sheep with clostridial infections, 17 were vaccinated with a multicomponent vaccine (C. perfringens types A, B and D, C. septicum and C. novyi) and 26 were unvaccinated animals. These findings indicate the need for improved vaccines or vaccination programs.

Acute abomasitis due to Clostridium septicum infection in experimental sheep.

Australian Veterinary JournalVolume 60, Issue 10 p. 308-309 Acute abomasitis due to Clostridium septkum infection in experimental sheep T. M. ELLIS, T. M. ELLIS Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, Western Australia 6151Search for more papers by this authorJ. B. ROWE, J. B. ROWE Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, Western Australia 6151Search for more papers by this authorJ. M. LLOYD, J. M. LLOYD Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, Western Australia 6151Search for more papers by this author T. M. ELLIS, T. M. ELLIS Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, Western Australia 6151Search for more papers by this authorJ. B. ROWE, J. B. ROWE Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, Western Australia 6151Search for more papers by this authorJ. M. LLOYD, J. M. LLOYD Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, Western Australia 6151Search for more papers by this author First published: October 1983 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1983.tb02817.xCitations: 21AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume60, Issue10October 1983Pages 308-309 RelatedInformation

Serological characterization of Clostridium septicum strains isolated from clinical materials of chickens and cows.

Serological characterization of Clostridium septicum strains isolated from clinical materials of chickens and cows.

Isolation of Clostridium septicum from diseased chickens in broiler farms.

[in Japanese]

Occult clostridial myonecrosis

Nontraumatic gas gangrene is extremely rare. It usually occurs following ulceration or perforation of an abdominal or pelvic viscus in persons having impaired host immune defenses. A fatal case of nontraumatic Clostridium septicum septicemia and myonecrosis in an elderly diabetic man with a perforated colon carcinoma is presented. The case illustrates the occult manner in which such cases typically present and the fulminant course of this disease. The need for rapid diagnosis and the current recommended treatment of gas gangrene are discussed.

Nontraumatic clostridial myonecrosis: An infectious disease emergency

A 64-year-old man presented with a history of four days of lower abdominal pain and 12 hours of cutaneous discoloration, bullae formation, and swelling of the soft tissues of abdominal wall and right thigh. Myonecrosis of abdominal wall and an adenocarcinoma of the cecum were found at operation. Cultures of blood and fluid from the bullae yielded Clostridium septicum. Nontraumatic clostridial myonecrosis is a fulminant, usually fatal disease that is most often the result of bacteremia from an occult gastrointestinal lesion. Ulceration of the colon or terminal ileum is the most common predisposing condition, and is usually due to gastrointestinal or hematological malignancy. Patients often present with nonspecific complaints, including pain at the affected site and fever. The disease progresses rapidly to include bronze discoloration, edema, and hemorrhagic bullous lesions of the skin, subcutaneous emphysema, and myonecrosis. Presumptive diagnosis often can be made by Gram stain of the bullous fluid that reveals gram-positive bacilli and a paucity of leukocytes. Favorable outcome depends on prompt institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy and surgical debridement of involved soft tissues, as well as correction of the underlying disorder. This disease should be considered to be a medical-surgical emergency.

Neutropenic enterocolitis and Clostridium septicum infection in patients with agranulocytosis

Neutropenic enterocolitis and Clostridium septicum infection in patients with agranulocytosis

Neutropenic Enterocolitis and Clostridium septicum Infection in Patients With Agranulocytosis

Two patients with previously undiagnosed agranulocytosis had rapidly fatal Clostridium septicum sepsis and neutropenic enterocolitis. This toxigenic organism has a known predilection for cecal lesions. The association reported herein suggests that C septicum may be the cause of this necrotizing enteropathy.

The haemorrhagic exudate and its possible relationship to neurogenic inflammation.

The morphological effects of an aqueous solution of Nistatin, of Clostridium septicum and Tityus serrulatus toxins, of Bothrops jararaca and Agkistrodon piscivorus venoms on the vessels of the tendinous portion of the diaphragm were investigated in guinea-pigs. It was demonstrated that all these substances, when injected intrapleurally induced not only an increase in the permeability of venules but also haemorrhages originating at this segment of the microcirculation. Red cells were shown to escape from venules either by diapedesis or from restricted areas of these vessels which showed intense ultrastructural disorganisation of the vessel wall. Previous treatment of the animals with steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or with anticoagulants and chemotherapeutic drugs did not abolish the effect of these irritants. Electrical or chemical stimulation of the phrenic nerve had effects on the microcirculation of the diaphragm similar to those of Nistatin, toxins and venoms. Because of these findings and because Nistatin when injected intrapleurally induces an intense perineuritis of the phrenic nerve, a tentative hypothesis is proposed linking haemorrhagic exudation to the antidromic stimulation of sensitive nerves.

Necrotising Enterocolitis Associated with Invasion by Clostridium septicum Complicating Cyclic Neutropaenia

A fatal case of necrotising enterocolitis complicating cyclic neutropaenia in a 17-year-old boy is reported. The episode of enterocolitis was characterised by fulminant, generalised peritonitis associated with necrosis and gas formation in the wall of the ileum and caecum. Clostridium septicum was grown from premortem blood cultures and Gram positive bacilli typical of this organism were present in histological sections of the bowel wall. Necrotising enterocolitis in this and previously reported cases of cyclic neutropaenia resembles the agranulocytic form of intestinal necrosis which occasionally complicates leukaemia.

Clostridium septicum bacteremia its clinical significance

The medical records of 59 patients with Clostridium septicum bacteremia were reviewed; 42 (71 per cent) of these patients had malignancies. One half had hematologic malignancies, and one half had solid tumors. Of the 21 patients with solid tumors, 14 (67 per cent) had cancer of the colon. Among these patients, the cecum was the most frequent site of malignancy. The cecum and distal ileum were the most probable portals of entry for C. septicum bacteremia among the 28 patients examined at autopsy. Patients admitted to the hospital with C. septicum bacteremia usually have fulminating clinical courses and, unless the appropriate antibiotics are administered soon after admission, the outcome is fatal. The results of this study demonstrate the high association of C. septicum bacteremia and malignancy, and the need for early recognition and therapy.