Direct detection of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin in patients' stools during an outbreak of food poisoning.
An outbreak of diarrhoea in a hotel affected 25 time keepers attending the 1997 Mediterranean Games. Epidemiological investigation implicated a 'pasta al ragù' consumed at the hotel's restaurant and Clostridium perfringens food poisoning was identified by direct detection of C. perfringens enterotoxin in patients' stools. This report confirms that a careful evaluation of epidemiological features, together with the availability of direct and rapid laboratory methods, may lead to a prompt identification of C. perfringens food poisoning.
Arcieri
R
R
Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Dionisi
A M
AM
Caprioli
A
A
Lopalco
P
P
Prato
R
R
Germinario
C
C
Rizzo
C
C
Larocca
A M
AM
Barbuti
S
S
Greco
D
D
Luzzi
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012147:Restaurants
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins; C035598:enterotoxin, Clostridium