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What is
Clostridium perfringens?
How is
Clostridium perfringens
spread?
What illness does
Clostridium perfringens
cause?
How is
Clostridium perfringens
infection diagnosed?
How is the illness
treated?
What can be done to prevent
Clostridium perfringens
infection?
What is
Clostridium perfringens?
Clostridium perfringens
are spore-forming bacteria that can be found in soil, feces,
and the intestines of healthy people and animals. Clostridium perfringens
are also often found in raw meat and poultry. The
bacteria often cause food poisoning, but can also infect
wounds.
How is
Clostridium perfringens
spread?
Eating foods that are served after improper storage can lead
to infection. After cooking, small numbers of the
organism may still be present. These can grow and
produce toxin when the temperature is kept between 70° and
140° F. and air and moisture levels are right. For
example, this can occur when foods that are cooked in large
quantities are then held at room temperature for a prolonged
period of time. Clostridium perfringens
food poisoning is more common with meat products and gravies.
The bacteria can be found in uncooked meat and poultry.
It can also be transferred to food from stool bacteria if
proper hand washing is not practiced.
What illness does
Clostridium perfringens
cause?
Clostridium perfringens
most often causes food poisoning that results in sudden,
watery diarrhea and abdominal pain. Usually there is no
fever and no vomiting. On very rare occasions
Clostridium perfringens
can cause a more severe infection that causes the intestinal
tissue to die and results in an infection of the blood.
Wounds that become contaminated with
Clostridium perfringens
can
result in tissue decay.
How is
Clostridium perfringens
infection diagnosed?
Clostridium perfringens is initially diagnosed based on
symptoms. Laboratory confirmation is made by finding
high concentrations of Clostridium perfringens in food
or stools.
How is the illness
treated?
Usually no treatment is needed, other than taking steps to
prevent or treat dehydration.
What can be done to prevent
Clostridium perfringens
infection?
Be sure
to wash your hands before preparing or serving foods and after
handling raw meat or poultry. Meat and poultry based
foods should be cooked thoroughly. Clostridium
perfringens grows best between 45° and 140° F., so it is
best to keep hot foods hot (above 140° F.) and cold foods cold
(below 40° F.). If you have a large portion of food
leftover, divide it into smaller portions not over three
inches deep to refrigerate so it cools quickly.
Foods should be refrigerated immediately and not left at room
temperature to cool. Prepared food should not be left
unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Reheat foods to
at least that 165° F.
For more
information call (602) 364-3289 |
