CLOSTRIDIUM AND OTHER ANAEROBES

What type of bacteria is Clostridium?

Anaerobic, spore-forming

Is Clostridium catalase-positive or catalase-negative?

Catalase-negative

Common types of Clostridium species

C. perfringens, C. botulinum, C. tetani, C. difficile

Shape and gram stain of Clostridium spp.

Gram-positive bacillus

What shape do C. perfringens spores have?

Oval, subterminal

Are C. perfringens spores typically seen in culture?

No

C. perfringens motility status

Non-motile

Type of hemolysis seen with C. perfringens on blood agar

Double-zone hemolysis

Toxins produced by C. perfringens

α-toxin, lecithinase, hemolysins

C. perfringens diseases

Gas gangrene, food poisoning

Which test confirms C. perfringens lecithinase production?

Nagler reaction

Medium for confirming C. perfringens lecithinase activity

Egg Yolk Agar

Result of C. perfringens on litmus milk

Acid with stormy clot

Disease caused by C. botulinum

Botulism

Appearance of C. botulinum spores

Drumstick, subterminal

Main toxin of C. botulinum

Botulinum toxin

Infantile disease caused by C. botulinum

Floppy baby syndrome

Clinical use of botulinum toxin A

Treats strabismus

Toxin mechanism of C. botulinum

Prevents acetylcholine release

C. botulinum lipase result

Positive

Common food source for C. botulinum

Home-canned vegetables

Which Clostridium species causes tetanus?

C. tetani

Shape of C. tetani spores

Round, terminal

Appearance of C. tetani spores

Drumstick, lollipop

Key neurotoxin of C. tetani

Tetanospasmin

Incubation period for tetanus

3-21 days

Common name for C. tetani symptom 'trismus'

Lockjaw

Vaccine for C. tetani

DTaP

Which Clostridium causes antibiotic-associated colitis?

C. difficile

Toxins produced by C. difficile

Toxin A (enterotoxin) and Toxin B (cytotoxin)

Spore characteristics of C. difficile

Oval, subterminal

Medium for C. difficile culture

Cycloserine-Cefoxitin Fructose Agar

Appearance of C. difficile colonies on CCFA

Yellow halo

Typical habitat of C. difficile in humans

Gastrointestinal tract

C. difficile motility result

Motile

Is C. difficile gelatinase positive or negative?

Positive

Typical cause of C. perfringens food poisoning

Improper food storage

Clinical symptoms of C. perfringens Type A food poisoning

Diarrhea and abdominal pain

Severe form of C. perfringens food poisoning

Enteritis necroticans

Common symptom of C. perfringens gas gangrene

Tissue necrosis

C. botulinum mode of infection

Ingestion of preformed toxin

Typical symptom of botulism

Flaccid paralysis

C. tetani unique symptom appearance

Risus sardonicus (devil's grin)

C. difficile main diagnostic method

Toxin detection in stool

Lipase test result for C. perfringens

Negative

Lecithinase test result for C. perfringens

Positive

Main habitat for C. botulinum spores

Soil

Appearance of C. botulinum colonies on blood agar

Not specified

Does C. tetani ferment carbohydrates?

No

Fermentation products of C. difficile

Glucose and fructose

Transmission route of Clostridium infections

Ingestion or contaminated wounds

Common isolation site for C. tetani spores

Environmental/soil

Main laboratory indicator for C. perfringens double-zone hemolysis

Blood agar

Type of neurotoxin in C. tetani causing spastic paralysis

Tetanospasmin

Effect of C. botulinum toxin on muscles

Hypotonia

Incubation period for C. botulinum food poisoning

Variable, based on toxin type

Is C. difficile lactose-fermenting?

No

Key symptom of C. tetani spasmic paralysis

Trismus (lockjaw)