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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
Published on: September 14, 2013
[Clostridium spp. isolated from surgical specimens]
Nagao Shinagawa1, Jiro Yura, Hiromitsu Takeyama
1Department of Surgery, NTT West Tokai Hospital.
Abstract:
In the present study, the isolation rate of Clostridium spp. from surgical specimens and its antimicrobial susceptibilities were examined. Last 24 years, Clostridium spp. was isolated from 65 (1.8%) out of 3,644 specimens from the surgical abdominal infections. Clostridium spp. was most frequently isolated from secondary peritonitis such as perforated peritonitis, followed by hepato-biliary tract infection. There were 59 cases (90.8%) of mixed infection with Clostridium spp. and other bacteria. The rate of mixed infection with Bacteroides spp. (23.6%) was highest, followed by Escherichia coli (19.7%), other aerobic Gram-negative rods and Enterococcus spp. Although Clostridium perfringens was highly sensitive to penicillins, cephems and carbapenems, a small number of Clostridium spp. other than Clostridium perfringens were resistant to cephems, erythromycin clindamycin and fosfomycin, respectively.
Insights
Clostridium species are infrequently isolated from surgical abdominal infections but often occur with other bacteria. While Clostridium perfringens remains sensitive to common antibiotics, other Clostridium species show emerging resistance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Context:
- Clostridium species are anaerobic bacteria that can cause serious infections.
- Surgical site infections, particularly abdominal infections, are a significant concern in healthcare settings.
- Understanding the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium spp. is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose:
- To determine the isolation rate of Clostridium species from surgical abdominal infection specimens over a 24-year period.
- To analyze the types of surgical infections associated with Clostridium spp. isolation.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated Clostridium species.
Summary:
- Clostridium species were isolated from 1.8% of 3,644 surgical abdominal infection specimens over 24 years.
- Most frequent sources were secondary peritonitis and hepato-biliary tract infections.
- Mixed infections were common (90.8%), frequently involving Bacteroides spp. and Escherichia coli. Clostridium perfringens showed high sensitivity to penicillins, cephems, and carbapenems, but other Clostridium species exhibited resistance to cephems, erythromycin, clindamycin, and fosfomycin.
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of considering Clostridium species in polymicrobial abdominal infections.
- Identifies potential emerging antibiotic resistance in Clostridium species beyond C. perfringens.
- Informs empirical antibiotic selection and treatment strategies for surgical abdominal infections.
