Clostridium tertium

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Clostridium tertium
Clostridium tertium.jpg
Magnified 956X, this Gram-stained photomicrograph depicted numbers of the Gram-positive Clostridium tertium bacteria, which had been cultivated on a blood agar plate (BAP), over a time period of 48 hours.
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Clostridia
Order: Eubacteriales
Family: Clostridiaceae
Genus: Clostridium
Species:
C. tertium
Binomial name
Clostridium tertium
(Henry 1917) Bergey et al. 1923

Clostridium tertium is an anaerobic, motile, gram-positive bacterium. Although it can be considered an uncommon pathogen in humans, there has been substantial evidence of septic episodes in human beings. [1] C. tertium is easily decolorized in Gram-stained smears and can be mistaken for a Gram-negative organism. [2] However, C.tertium does not grow on selective media for Gram-negative organisms. [2]

Contents

History

Clostridium tertium was initially isolated from war wounds by Captain Herbert Henry (RAMC) in 1917, but it was not until the first human cases of C.tertium bacteremia were reported in 1963 that it was recognized as a human pathogen. [3] C.tertium has been isolated in neutropenic and nonneutropenic patients, and in cases of necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene. [4] It has also been recognized as a causative agent of enteritis in cattle, but it is an uncommon human pathogen. [4] C.tertium has also been isolated from soil and from faeces of healthy neonates and infants. [4]

Characteristics

Clostridium tertium is a Gram-positive, spore forming, anaerobic bacillus found in the soil and the gut of many animal species, including humans. [3] C.tertium distinguishes itself from other clostridia as a non-toxin producing, aerotolerant, non-histotoxic and non-lipolytic species. [3] Aerotolerant strains of anaerobic bacteria can tolerate oxygen and exhibit growth to some extent in the presence of oxygen. [5] The aerotolerance of C.tertium can lead to its misidentification as Bacillus spp. or Lactobacillus spp. [2] A negative catalase test is an easy tool to differentiate C.tertium from Bacillus spp., which are catalase positive. [2] Also, C.tertium only forms spores anaerobically, as opposed to Bacillus spp., which sporulates aerobically. [2] Other distinct characteristics are its large size (1.5 x 10 micrometers) and its unusual "square" morphology on Gram stained smear. [6]

Virulence

C.tertium.Leifson flagella stain(digitally colorized) Clostridium tertium flagellum.jpg
C.tertium.Leifson flagella stain(digitally colorized)

Clostridium tertium has traditionally been considered nonpathogenic, but increasingly it is being reported as a human pathogen. [7] The organism has been associated with bacteremia, meningitis, septic arthritis, enterocolitis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, post-traumatic brain abscess, and pneumonia. [7] It has also been increasingly recognized as an important cause of sepsis in immunocompromised patients. [5] C. tertium has also been implicated with osteomyelitis, and miscellaneous soft tissue infections in humans. [8]

Clostridium tertium does not appear to secrete any toxin; instead, it damages gastrointestinal mucosa by direct colonization. [8] Three major factors have been associated with C.tertium bacteremia: intestinal mucosal injury, neutropenia, and history of exposure to β-lactam antibiotics (particularly third generation cephalosporins). [3] Almost all reported cases of C.tertium bacteremia have been in neutropenic patients without any obvious source of infection. [9]

It has been established that C.tertium elaborates enzymes directed against blood group A antigen in the presence of glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, intact blood group substance with suboptimal glucose, or completely hydrolyzed blood group substance. [10] The blood group A-splitting activity of C.tertium enzymes was inhibited by copper, zinc and nickel ions. [10]

Treatment

Clostridium tertium bacteremia can cause fever, and directed antibiotic therapy is indicated. [3] C.tertium is commonly (but not universally) resistant to many β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporin; clindamycin; and metronidazole; but it is susceptible to vancomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. [3] Mortality related to C.tertium bacteremia treated appropriately appears to be quite low. [3] The selection effect of antibiotics on C.tertium may occur in cases where patients have had prior exposure to β-lactam antibiotics. [3]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Moraxella catarrhalis</i> Species of bacterium

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cefotaxime</span> Chemical compound

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<i>Peptostreptococcus</i> Genus of bacteria

Peptostreptococcus is a genus of anaerobic, Gram-positive, non-spore forming bacteria. The cells are small, spherical, and can occur in short chains, in pairs or individually. They typically move using cilia. Peptostreptococcus are slow-growing bacteria with increasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Peptostreptococcus is a normal inhabitant of the healthy lower reproductive tract of women.

<i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i> Species of heterotrophic, Gram-negative, bacterium

Aeromonas hydrophila is a heterotrophic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium mainly found in areas with a warm climate. This bacterium can be found in fresh or brackish water. It can survive in aerobic and anaerobic environments, and can digest materials such as gelatin and hemoglobin. A. hydrophila was isolated from humans and animals in the 1950s. It is the best known of the species of Aeromonas. It is resistant to most common antibiotics and cold temperatures and is oxidase- and indole-positive. Aeromonas hydrophila also has a symbiotic relationship as gut flora inside of certain leeches, such as Hirudo medicinalis.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veillonella parvula</span> Species of bacterium

Veillonella parvula is a strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, coccus-shaped bacterium in the genus Veillonella. It is a normal part of the oral flora but can be associated with diseases such as periodontitis and dental caries as well as various systemic infections, including meningitis and osteomyelitis. It has also been isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis and has been associated with hypertension together with Campylobacter rectus and Prevotella melaninogenica.

<i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Species of bacterium

Clostridium butyricum is a strictly anaerobic endospore-forming Gram-positive butyric acid–producing bacillus subsisting by means of fermentation using an intracellularly accumulated amylopectin-like α-polyglucan (granulose) as a substrate. It is uncommonly reported as a human pathogen and is widely used as a probiotic in Asia. C. butyricum is a soil inhabitant in various parts of the world, has been cultured from the stool of healthy children and adults, and is common in soured milk and cheeses. The connection with dairy products is shown by the name: the butyr- in butyricum reflects the relevance of butyric acid in the bacteria's metabolism and the connection with Latin butyrum and Greek βούτυρον, with word roots pertaining to butter and cheese.

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Anaerobic infections are caused by anaerobic bacteria. Obligately anaerobic bacteria do not grow on solid media in room air ; facultatively anaerobic bacteria can grow in the presence or absence of air. Microaerophilic bacteria do not grow at all aerobically or grow poorly, but grow better under 10% carbon dioxide or anaerobically. Anaerobic bacteria can be divided into strict anaerobes that can not grow in the presence of more than 0.5% oxygen and moderate anaerobic bacteria that are able of growing between 2 and 8% oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria usually do not possess catalase, but some can generate superoxide dismutase which protects them from oxygen.

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References

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  10. 1 2 Howe C., MacLennan JD, Mandl I, Kabat EA, (1957). "Enzymes of Clostridium tertium." Department of Microbiology and Neurology" Columbia University.