An investigation into Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin-associated diarrhoea.
An investigation was carried out to establish the incidence of diarrhoea associated with the presence of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens. The results indicate a high risk group, namely elderly hospitalized patients, who should be investigated for this organism in a similar way to Clostridium difficile if symptoms occur. The significance of antibiotic association is suggested and cross-infection was shown to be a possibility. Detection of the enterotoxin was accompanied in all cases by the presence of high faecal counts of enterotoxigenic strains of C. perfringens.
Department of Microbiology, Wycombe General Hospital, Buckinghamshire.
S C
SC
Samuel
P
P
Hancock
D A
DA
Leigh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000145:classification*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000737:chemistry; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004768:Enterotoxins