Who are clostridia? These are microorganisms that form spores, developing with a complete lack of oxygen. They feed on dead organics. An interesting feature - they are able to turn inorganic substances into organic. In this article, we will dwell on the bacteria Clostridia perfringens. Consider its features in the framework of microbiology, the disease that it causes, the symptoms of the lesion, diagnostic methods and therapy.
Who are clostridia?
Clostridium perfringens is one of the representatives of Clostridium 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 the bacterium falls into adverse conditions for itself, then it is converted 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 things.
What is the danger of penetration of clostridia into the human body? A bacterium can destroy its tissues, which can lead to serious consequences and even death. Also, a number of scientists believe that it is clostridia that has 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 says that the cure of the body from clostridia leads to the disappearance of symptoms of a mental disorder.
The most famous clostridia in microbiology:
- Clostridium perfringens is a causative agent of food poisoning (in particular, 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 is always restrained by a small percentage in human feces.
We proceed to the next topic.
Clostridia found in feces - is it dangerous?
As we have already mentioned, Clostridium difficile can be found in the stool of a healthy person. This is observed in 3% of absolutely healthy people, in 15-20% of patients in hospitals and clinics.
However, the amount of clostridia contained is important here. It should not exceed the norm - 105 cfu / g. Enhanced reproduction, the development of clostridia causes problems with 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.
There is no need to be afraid of the consequences if in the results of the feces analysis the proportion of clostridia is found within the normal range, and you do not diagnose the alarming symptoms in yourself - abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea. The main thing for you is to take care of the healthy state of your intestinal microflora.
Clostridium perfringens - what is it?
The causative agent of Clostridium perfringens is another species of clostridia. It is also characterized by the development of a potent poison dangerous to the human body. What is noteworthy, the toxin retains its properties even when heated to 100 ° Celsius.
What is the danger to us of clostridia perfringens? The impact of their toxins on the human body can lead to severe food poisoning, gastroenteritis, gas gangrene.
Like the previous species, Clostridium perfringens within the normal range will inhabit 1/3 of healthy people in the intestines. Microbiologists regard it as a conditionally pathogenic microflora, a sanitary-indicative microorganism.
Facts about the bacteria
Let's take a closer look at Clostridia perfringens:
- The bacterium was discovered relatively long ago - in 1892.
- Refers to gram-positive (Gram has a strong blue-violet color).
- Spore-forming anaerobic organism, as well as other types of clostridia.
- 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 spindle in a microscope.
- In a state of spores, it even tolerates boiling well. Poorly susceptible to the harmful effects of antibiotics.
- Bacteria of clostridium perfringens are divided among themselves into 6 serotypes. The basis for gradation is the antigenic property of the toxins produced by them. Hence, different species of Clostridium perfringens are denoted by Latin symbols from A to F.
- Each type of bacterium is characterized by its pathogenic effect - necrotic, enterotoxic, hemotoxic, neurotoxic, etc.
- For the human body, the most dangerous types of bacteria A and C. 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. Its small bulge in the middle of the body is distinguished.
- Propagated by spores. The most ideal conditions are the location where intense gas formation occurs (anaerobic environment).
- On average, 1 g of soil will contain a hundred representatives of Clostridium perfringens! Also in large quantities they can be found in street dust, sewage, feces.
- Clostridium perfringens is observed in animals, domestic and wild, in humans.
The biological properties of bacteria
Clostridium perfringens are resistant to heating, to cooling (retain their biological properties even after prolonged exposure to the freezer). Also, they do not care about the following effects:
- ultraviolet;
- radiation exposure;
- exposure to alkali and acid;
- disinfectant treatment, etc.
Spores of a microorganism, having got on a food product, sprout almost instantly. They can infect meat, fish, dairy products and so on. It is very dangerous to consume food infected with the bacterium when it has not passed the proper heat treatment for the duration. 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 dangerous bacteria infection?
The pathogenesis of clostridia perfringens begins with the active absorption of the intestines of these poisons. In particular, necrotoxin, enterotoxin. Most of all, they are harmful to the capillaries of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. Once in human blood, the poisons of Clostridium perfringens have toxic and necrotic effects on the body.
Thus, the waste products of bacteria can even be fatal. In patients who died from damage by a microorganism, deep necrosis, multiple internal hemorrhages, swelling, and hyperemia were found.
Microorganism diseases
The effect of clostridia perfringens - diseases that the bacterium causes:
- A group of diarrheal pathologies whose symptoms are sometimes dangerously similar to conventional food poisoning.
- Necrotic enteritis.
- Pseudomembranous colitis.
Especially dangerous is the defeat of the body by the bacterium of serotype F. It is it that causes necrotic enteritis. Its result is the necrosis of the internal tissues of the small intestine. The probability of death of such a disease is very high - 30% of cases.
The clinical picture, symptoms of damage
The disease (Clostridia perfringens acts as a pathogen here) begins to make itself felt after 6-24 hours after eating infected products. Most often in the role of the latter are sausages, dairy products.
The patient noted:
- severe nausea;
- vomiting
- increase in body temperature to 38-39 ° Celsius;
- signs of intoxication - lethargy, weakness, apathy, loss of appetite, anxiety;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
If the disease develops in a severe form, by many signs it will resemble an infectious gastroenterocolitis:
- frequent vomiting with blood streaks;
- foamy watery loose stools, whose frequency sometimes reaches 15-20 times a day;
- impurities of blood in the feces.
The peculiarity of the defeat of Clostridium perfringens is that the disease progresses very quickly. It is always accompanied by a sharp deterioration in overall 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 on time, then a lethal outcome is not excluded.
Symptoms of defeat in children
The child's body can react to the defeat of its Clostridium perfringens in this way:
- frequent loose stools;
- abdominal pain, cramping in the peritoneum;
- impurities of mucus in the feces.
These symptoms may disappear on their own after 2-3 days. After 4-5 days, as a rule, the child's stool normalizes. Before us there will be a mild form of clostridiosis. However, the child is not safe from a severe form of the disease. Most often, it is noted in young patients with prolonged dysbiosis - children who have been taking antibacterial drugs for a long time.
Serotype A injury
Serotype A of Clostridium perfringens can enter the body not only with food in the gastrointestinal system, but also on the wound surface. Most vulnerable here are wounds that have not undergone surgical primary treatment, necrotic areas, tissues that do not receive sufficient blood flow.
The result will be gas (anaerobic) gangrene. It leads to rapidly progressive tissue necrosis, edema, gas formation, severe intoxication of the body.
Diagnosis of clostridiosis
Even a lay person will notice that the defeat of Clostridium perfringens is similar in symptoms to many other intestinal infections and diseases. Therefore, for the diagnosis of "clostridiosis", first of all, a laboratory examination of the patient's feces is required. The purpose of the event is the detection of enterotoxin (the poison secreted by the bacterium) in the mass.
Most often, within the framework of such diagnostics, the well-known methods of WIEF and RIGA are used.
Clostridiosis Treatment
Treatment (clostridia perfringens - the causative agent of this type of clostridiosis) is prescribed only by a doctor. Its main direction is medication. Mostly, this is the use of antibiotics and antibacterial drugs:
- "Furazolidone."
- Tetracycline.
- "Monomycin."
- "Azithromycin".
- Gentamicin.
- "Metronidazole".
- Zeporin.
Dosage, 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 turn to traditional medicine - the use of herbal infusions.
Prevention of this form of clostridiosis will consist of simply following the rules of personal hygiene, sanitization and storage of products - and by each of us, and employees of food shops, 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 stringent.