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Updated: Jan 24, 2026
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A Ligated Intestinal Loop Model in Anesthetized Specific Pathogen Free Chickens to Study Clostridium Perfringens Virulence
Published on: October 11, 2018
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Septic Shock Due to Clostridium perfringens
Raynieri Fernandez1, Andrea Anampa-Guzmán2
1Internal Medicine, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, USA.
Cureus
|May 30, 2019
Summary
Clostridium perfringens, a Gram-positive bacterium, caused fatal septic shock in a 75-year-old female. Early recognition and appropriate antibiotics are crucial for managing Gram-positive rod infections and preventing severe complications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium.
- Septic shock is a life-threatening condition characterized by circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities.
Observation:
- A 75-year-old female presented with acute on chronic left hip pain.
- Blood cultures eventually identified Clostridium perfringens.
- The patient developed progressive hypotension and multiorgan failure.
Findings:
- Despite treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam and clindamycin, the patient's condition worsened.
- The patient ultimately died from complications of septic shock.
Implications:
- Early identification of risk factors and prompt initiation of targeted antibiotic therapy are critical.
- Infectious disease consultation is vital for optimizing management of severe Gram-positive bacterial infections.
- Timely and appropriate empiric antibiotic selection can improve patient outcomes in septic shock.
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