Isolation and evaluation of clostridia from clinical sources

During a two-year period, 133 isolates of clostridia from clinical courses were obtained. These isolates are reviewed as to clinical significance and antimicrobial susceptibility. Adequate charts were available on 63 patients, nine (14%) of whom had their clinical source significantly altered by the presence of clostridia. Clostridia of little or no clinical significance were isolated from blood cultures from six patients. The occurrence of clostridial infections is unpredictable, and adequate clinical information is necessary to determine the need for identification of clostridial isolates.