Who are clostridia? These are microorganisms that form spores that develop in the absence of oxygen. They feed on dead organic matter. An interesting feature is that they are able to turn inorganic substances into organic ones. In this article, we will focus on the bacterium Clostridium perfringens. Consider its features within the framework of microbiology, the disease that it causes, the symptoms of the lesion, methods of diagnosis and therapy.
Who are clostridia?
Clostridia perfringens is one of the representatives of Clostridial microorganisms. Their main place of residence is water and soil. Many of these microorganisms are pathogenic for humans - they cause botulism, gas gangrene, tetanus, several types of colitis.
If a bacterium gets into unfavorable conditions for itself, it will transform into a spore. In this form, she manages to survive with the oxygen content in the air, and in dust, on the surfaces of objects, on living beings.
How dangerous is the penetration of clostridium into the human body? Bacteriumcan destroy its tissues, which can lead to serious consequences and even death. Also, a number of scientists believe that it is clostridia that have a certain effect on the human psyche. There is an assumption that these bacteria cause the development of autism. In defense of this point of view, it is said that the cure of the body from Clostridium leads to the disappearance of the symptoms of a mental disorder.
The most famous clostridia in microbiology:
- Clostridium perfringens is the causative agent of food poisoning (particularly diarrhea).
- Clostridium difficile - begins to actively develop in the intestinal tract in case of any problems with its microflora (especially when taking antibiotics), normally it will always be contained by a small percentage in human feces.
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Clostridia found in feces - is it dangerous?
As we have already mentioned, Clostridium difficile can be found in the feces of a he althy person. This is observed in 3% of absolutely he althy people, in 15-20% of patients in hospitals, clinics.
However, the number of clostridia contained is important here. It should not exceed the norm - 105 cfu / g. Enhanced reproduction, the development of clostridia causes problems with the intestinal microflora. For humans, this is dangerous because, in the course of its life, Clostridium difficile begins to produce a potent toxin that poisons the host's body. The result is diarrhea and more serious diseases, pathologies.
No need to be afraidconsequences in the event that the proportion of clostridium in the results of the analysis of feces is found to be within the normal range, and you do not diagnose yourself with alarming symptoms - abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea. The main thing for you is to take care of the he althy state of your intestinal microflora.
Clostridium perfringens - what is it?
The causative agent Clostridium perfringens is another type of Clostridium. It is also characterized by the development of a potent poison dangerous to the human body. Remarkably, the toxin retains its properties even when heated to 100° Celsius.
Why are Clostridium perfringens dangerous for us? Exposure to their toxins on the human body can lead to severe food poisoning, gastroenteritis, gas gangrene.
Like the previous species, Clostridium perfringens will normally inhabit the intestines of 1/3 of he althy people. Microbiologists regard it as a conditionally pathogenic microflora, a sanitary indicative microorganism.
Bacteria Facts
Let's take a closer look at Clostridium perfringens:
- The bacterium was discovered relatively long ago - in 1892.
- Relates to gram-positive (according to Gram it has a blue-violet strong color).
- Spore-forming anaerobic organism, like other types of Clostridium.
- Clostridium perfringens got its name from the word "spindle". This is due to the peculiarity of the formation of its spores. The bacterium begins to swell in the center, forming a shape that is somewhat reminiscent of a microscopespindle.
- In a state of spores, even boiling is well tolerated. Poorly susceptible to the destructive effects of antibiotics.
- Bacteria Clostridium perfringens are divided into 6 serotypes. The basis for gradation is the antigenic property of the toxins they produce. Hence, different types of Clostridium perfringens are designated by Latin characters from A to F.
- Each type of bacterium has its own pathogenic effect - necrotic, enterotoxic, hemotoxic, neurotoxic, etc.
- Bacteria types A and C are the most dangerous for the human body. The first type affects the digestive tract, and the second can lead to the progression of necrotic enteritis.
- Clostridia perfringens is a conditionally pathogenic bacillus. Its length is 4-8 microns. The thickness of the microorganism is only 0.8-1.5 microns. It is distinguished by a slight bulge in the middle of the body.
- Propagated by spores. The most ideal conditions are a location where intense gas formation occurs (anaerobic environment).
- On average 1g of soil will contain hundreds of Clostridium perfringens! They can also be found in large quantities in street dust, sewage, and feces.
- Clostridia perfringens has been observed in animals, domestic and wild, in humans.
Biological properties of bacteria
Clostridium perfringens are resistant to heat, to cooling (retain their biological properties even after a long stay in the freezer). Also, they do not care about the followingexposure:
- ultraviolet;
- radioactive exposure;
- impact of alkali and acid;
- disinfectant treatment, etc.
Spores of a microorganism, once on a food product, germinate almost instantly. They can infect meat, fish, dairy products, etc. It is very dangerous to eat food infected with a bacterium when it has not undergone the proper heat treatment. Once in the intestines with food, the microorganism begins to multiply intensively, poisoning a person with toxins - the products of its vital activity.
What is the danger of infection with a bacterium?
The pathogenesis of Clostridium perfringens begins with active intestinal absorption of these poisons. In particular, necrotoxin, enterotoxin. Most of all, they are detrimental to the capillaries of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. Once in the human blood, the poisons of Clostridium perfringens have a toxic and necrotic effect on the body.
Thus, the waste products of bacteria can even lead to death. Deep necrosis, multiple internal hemorrhages, swelling, hyperemia were found in patients who died from microorganism damage.
Diseases caused by microorganism
Exposure to Clostridium perfringens - diseases caused by the bacterium:
- A group of diarrheal disorders whose symptoms are sometimes dangerously similar to common food poisoning.
- Necrotic enteritis.
- Colitispseudomembranous.
Especially dangerous is the defeat of the body by the bacterium serotype F. It is she who causes necrotic enteritis. Its result is the necrosis of the internal tissues of the small intestine. The probability of a fatal outcome of such a disease is very high - 30% of cases.
Clinical picture, symptoms of lesions
The disease (Clostridium perfringens is the causative agent here) begins to make itself felt 6-24 hours after the consumption of infected products. Most often, sausages and dairy products serve as the latter.
The patient notes:
- severe nausea;
- vomit;
- increase in body temperature to 38-39° Celsius;
- signs of intoxication of the body - lethargy, weakness, apathy, loss of appetite, anxiety;
- disorder of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.
If the disease develops in a severe form, in many ways it will resemble infectious gastroenterocolitis:
- frequent blood-streaked vomiting;
- foamy watery liquid stools, whose frequency sometimes reaches 15-20 times a day;
- blood in the stool.
The peculiarity of the defeat of Clostridium perfringens is that the disease progresses very quickly. It is always accompanied by a sharp deterioration in general well-being - dehydration, severe weakness, acute pain in the stomach, bloating, an increase in the size of the spleen and liver, and a decrease in blood pressure. If the patient is not provided with qualified medical care in time, then a fatal outcome is not ruled out.
Symptoms of lesions in children
Children's body to the defeat of his Clostridium perfringens can react in this way:
- frequent loose stools;
- abdominal pain, abdominal cramps;
- mucus impurities in feces.
These symptoms may disappear on their own in 2-3 days. After 4-5 days, as a rule, the child's stool normalizes. Before us here will be a mild form of clostridium. However, the child is not insured against a severe form of the disease. Most often, it is noted in small patients with prolonged dysbacteriosis - children who have been taking antibacterial drugs for a long time.
Wound damage with serotype A
Serotype A Clostridium perfringens can enter the body not only with food into the gastrointestinal system, but also on the wound surface. Wounds that have not undergone surgical primary treatment, necrotic areas, tissues that do not receive sufficient blood flow are most vulnerable here.
The result will be gas (anaerobic) gangrene. It leads to rapidly progressive tissue necrosis, edema, gas formation, and severe intoxication of the body.
Diagnosis of Clostridiosis
Even a non-specialist will notice that Clostridium perfringens lesion is similar in symptoms to many other intestinal infections and diseases. Therefore, for the diagnosis of "clostridium" first of all, a laboratory study of the patient's feces is required. The purpose of the event is the detection of enterotoxin (a poison secreted by a bacterium) in the mass.
Most often, within the framework of such diagnostics, the well-known methods of VIEF and RIGA are used.
Clostridium treatment
Treatment (clostridium perfringens - the causative agent of this type of clostridium) is prescribed only by a doctor. Its main direction is medicine. Mostly, this is taking antibiotics and antibacterial drugs:
- "Furazolidone".
- "Tetracycline".
- "Monomycin".
- "Azithromycin".
- "Gentamicin".
- "Metronidazole".
- "Tseporin".
Dosage, regimen depends on age, individual characteristics of the body.
This treatment will be accompanied by symptomatic and anti-toxic therapy. For the speedy restoration of immunity, patients also turn to traditional medicine - the use of herbal infusions.
Prevention of this form of clostridiosis will consist in simply following the rules of personal hygiene, sanitization and storage of products - and each of us, and workers in food departments, grocery stores in particular. We must also remember that the children's body is less resistant to Clostridium perfringens. Therefore, control over the nutrition of children should be the most strict.
