Clostridium perfringens does not produce toxin when it is multiplying in food stored at a warm temperature but when that food is eaten the bacteria form spores and at the same time as endotoxin, which irritates the intestinal wall, causing diarrhea.
This is not exactly the same as toxic food poisoning or infective food poisoning but has some characteristics of both.
The incubation period is longer than with food poisoning where exotoxin has been produced, as caused by Staphylococcus aureus and shorter than infective food poisoning as caused by Salmonella.
Incubation period : 8-22 hours (usually 12-18 hours)
Duration of illness : 12-24 hours
Symptoms : Abdominal pains and diarrhea.
The patient rarely vomits.
Clostridium perfringens is frequently present in human and animal intestines.
Flies and bluebottles are usually heavily infected with Clostridium perfringens.
Early May this year Clostridium perfringens outbreak occurred at Central Louisiana State Hospital was recently linked to contaminated chicken salad, 40 people were sickened in the outbreak and three people died.
The outbreak almost certainly occurred as a result of improper food handling procedures.
Clostridium perfringens food poisoning
