Intraleukocytic spore formation and leukocytic vacuolization during Clostridium perfringens septicemia

The case of a patient with fulminant Clostridium perfringens septicemia and intravascular hemolysis is presented. The organisms in the blood stream were in sufficient quantity to be detected on a peripheral blood smear, and some were found to be within leukocytes. In vivo spore formation by C. perfringens is thought to be uncommon; however, in this patient probable spore formation by this organism was observed within peripheral blood leukocytes. The peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes from this patient were also markedly vacuolated.