Clostridium
| Definition: |
A genus of motile or nonmotile gram-positive bacteria of the family Clostridiaceae. Many species have been identified with some being pathogenic. They occur in water, soil, and in the intestinal tract of humans and lower animals. |
| Notes: |
GEN or unspecified; prefer specifics; infection = CLOSTRIDIUM INFECTIONS or its specifics |
Clostridium Categories.
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Clostridium botulinum - The etiologic agent of BOTULISM in man, wild ducks, and other waterfowl. It is also responsible for certain forms of forage poisoning in horses and cattle. The bacterium produces a powerful exotoxin that is resistant to proteolytic digestion. |
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Clostridium difficile - A common inhabitant of the colon flora in human infants and sometimes in adults. It produces a toxin that causes pseudomembranous enterocolitis (ENTEROCOLITIS, PSEUDOMEMBRANOUS) in patients receiving antibiotic therapy. |
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Clostridium perfringens - The most common etiologic agent of GAS GANGRENE. It is differentiable into several distinct types based on the distribution of twelve different toxins. |
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Clostridium tetani - The cause of TETANUS in humans and domestic animals. It is a common inhabitant of human and horse intestines as well as soil. Two components make up its potent exotoxin activity, a neurotoxin and a hemolytic toxin. |
Clostridium Definitions and Terms
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