C. absonum, C. argentinense, C. baratii, C. bifermentans, C. beijerinckii, C. butyricum, C. cadaveris, C. carnis, C. celatum, C. clostridioforme, C. cochlearium, C. cocleatum, C. fallax, C. ghonii, C. glycolicum, C. haemolyticum, C. hastiforme, C. histolyticum, C. indolis, C. innocuum, C. irregulare, C. leptum, C. limosum, C. malenominatum, C. novyi, C. oroticum, C. paraputrificum, C. piliforme, C. putrefasciens, C. ramosum, C. septicum, C. sordelii, C. sphenoides, C. sporogenes, C. subterminale, C. symbiosum, C. tertium - associated with wound infection, bacteraemia and abscesses - reported susceptibilities, penicillin, clindamycin, metronidazole - see notes under other spp. below
C. botulinum - the agent of botulism - treatment includes antitoxin and respiratory support -(some cases of botulism have been associated with C. baratii and C. butyricum)
C. difficile - agent of diarrhoea (usually antibiotic-associated) and pseudomembranous colitis - metronidazole or oral vancomycin as treatment (or colectomy in severe cases)
C. perfringens - agent of food poisoning, necrotising enterocolitis (pigbel, Darmbrand), gas gangrene - (C. histolyticum, C. novyi, C. septicum, C. sordellii also associated with gas gangrene) - treatment of gas gangrene includes debridement and penicillin, clindamycin or metronidazole
C. tetani - agent of tetanus - organism reported susceptible to penicillin and metronidazole - treatment of tetanus includes antitoxin and appropriate supportive measures
Reference - Bittner, J. (1980). The clinical significance, taxonomy and special methodological problems of the pathogenic clostridia. Infection. 8(S2), 117-122.
