Clostridium perfringens

Clinical Utility

This assay is only available as part of a panel and cannot be ordered individually.

Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, and is the most common member of the Clostridium genus to cause wound-related infections (including gas gangrene and related necrotic conditions). Clostridial soft-tissue infections usually develop hours or days after an extremity is injured by severe crushing or penetrating trauma that devitalizes tissue, creating anaerobic conditions. Infection may also occur in operative wounds, particularly in patients with underlying occlusive vascular disease.