Sketchy Micro: Clostridium Perfringens

Question 1

Two wounds are commonly associated with C. perfringens infections: ______________.

Answer 1

motorcycle accidents and combat injuries; these injuries both produce large flesh wounds that expose the body to dirt (where C. perfringens forms spores)

(Think of the soldier who crashed his motorcycle.)

Question 2

C. perfringens is what kind of bacteria?

Answer 2

Gram-positive, obligate anaerobe, spore-forming

Think of the violet awnings, the soldier’s gas mask, and the knocked over walnuts.

Question 3

What kind of C. perfringens injury leads to crepitus?

Answer 3

Gas gangrene infection (like the gas rising out of the motorcycle)

Question 4

Which toxin leads to hemolysis?

Answer 4

The alpha toxin, which is a lecithinase (meaning it cleaves the phospholipids in the RBC lipid bilayer)

(Think of the alpha flag hanging by the clothespins that look like phospholipids.)

Question 5

What is unique about the hemolysis caused by C. perfringens?

Answer 5

It produces a double zone of hemolysis. Also, it must be plated in an anaerobic way.

(Think of the Double fine Zone, where the soldier crashed his bike.)

Question 6

What is the treatment for C. perfringens?

Answer 6

IV penicillin G (like the pencil in the shopkeeper’s hand)

Question 7

What is unique about the presentation of C. perfringens diarrhea?

Answer 7

Caused by food poisoning, it is a delayed-onset because the spores have to germinate in the gut.

(Think of the “slow” sign that the soldier hit and how he’s lying in the brown gas that looks like diarrhea.)