The importance of clostridia in experimental intestinal strangulation.
Hemorrhagic and ischemic strangulation of closed intestinal segments was sutdied in germ-free rats individually monocontaminated with one of eight separate species of clostridia. Ischemic strangulation was found to be as deadly as hemorrhagic strangulation in the presence of clostridia. Some clostridia were very toxic whereas others were relatively innocuous. The clostridia, ranked in the order of decreasing lethality, were: Clostridium perfringens type A, C. septicum, C. histolyticum, C. haemolyticum, C. bifermantans, C. sporogenes, C. tertium, and C. novyi type A. All species were readily established in the gastrointestinal tract of the nonoperated germ-free rat. The clostridia appear to be one of the most potentially lethal groups of organisms commonly found in the intestinal tract of human beings and animals.
D000818:Animals; D003013:Clostridium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000382:microbiology; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007082:Ileum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats