Countless bacteria surround a person for life. Some live in the body initially, others we eat with food. Many of these bacteria are harmless, some are even useful, but there are some that we are terribly afraid of, because they can breed dangerous diseases. These bacteria are clostridia, which can cause human botulism, gangrene, tetanus, and other dangerous diseases.
Characteristics of the causative agent
The name of the bacterium was obtained from the Latin "clostrum" - spindle, since they form a central spore exceeding the cell in diameter, which gives the microorganism a similarity to this object.
They are anaerobic, that is able to live only in practically anoxic conditions.
Species and symptoms of clostridia
There are several species of clostridia, but for humans, those that exude the strongest exotoxins and are the cause of clostridial infections are pathogenic.
| Clostridiosis group | Disease | Causal agent |
|---|---|---|
| Wound( traumatic) | Gas gangrene | C. perfringens;C. septicum;C. novyi;C. histolyticum. |
| Tetanus | C. tetani | |
| Enteral( toxic) | Botulism | C. botulinum |
| Necrotizing enteritis | C. perfringens( type F) | |
| Pseudomembranous colitis | C. difficile | |
| When interacting with other microorganisms or with each other | Antibiotic-associated diarrhea | C.difficile;C. perfringens. An association with the Klebsiella is possible;fungi of the genus Candida;staphylococcus and others. |
Clostridia is also called "necroparasites", as they are unable to reproduce in well-supplied blood tissues. By producing special enzymes, they cause necrosis and gas formation, which causes a neurotoxic effect on the body.
Botulism
A teaspoonful of this poison can kill the entire population of the United States, and 4 kg - all of humanity. Neither man nor animals has immunity to it.
A botulinum wand causes paralysis of the diaphragm, severing the connection between the muscles and the brain, resulting in asphyxia.
The bacterium secretes in a large amount a specific neurotoxin, which has a powerful toxic effect on the nervous system, as it blocks the neurotransmitters. And selectively in places where the nerve impulse switches from cell to cell.
In this connection, the following are violated:
- musculature function that controls breathing;
- oculomotor functions;
- swallowing act.
Symptoms of infection are as follows:
- obscure, blurry vision, mesh before the eyes;
- is a nasal voice due to the paralysis of the soft palate;
- general weakness, going from top to bottom;
- lowering of eyelids;
- sharp weakness of the neck muscles.
There may be vomiting and diarrhea, but within a day these symptoms go away, and a full atony of the intestine sets in. And there can be no high temperature and pressure.
Tetanus
The causative agent also lives in the soil( stored there for up to 100 years) and forms spores that do not die even after boiling for 2 hours. Gate to penetrate the tetanus spore:
- scratches on the skin;
- cuts;
- burns;
- frostbite.
The bacterium itself does not spread over the body. Once in the wound, it actively begins to multiply, forming spores. Spore, hitting the wound surface, begins to get everything necessary to again become a bacterium and isolate special tetanus toxins:
- The tetanospasmin , which rushes into the brain and affects the nerve cells. This eliminates the correlating effect of the brain structures.
- Tetanohemolysin , which destroys erythrocytes, followed by the release of hemoglobin into the environment.
The disease is manifested following symptoms:
- muscle spasm, initially predominantly facial;
- increase in temperature.
- weakness;
- tachycardia.
The extreme degree is when the convulsions become generalized, that is, affecting the entire body, and it is almost impossible to help in this situation. The same applies to the respiratory musculature and the heart muscle - there is a paralysis of these organs, and a person can not practically breathe.
Gas gangrene
Bacteria that cause gas gangrene live not only in the soil, but also in ordinary street dust.
Wounds, surgically unprocessed, and having necrotic areas are infected. In such wounds, pathogens are planted, and exotoxins are released, which simply dissolve the healthy tissue, forming putrefactive gases.
Approximately 6 hours after infection, symptoms appear:
- fever;
- tachycardia;
- cyanosis of the skin.
Further the condition of the person sharply worsens - vital functions of nervous system and blood circulation are broken, there is a renal insufficiency.
Pseudomembranous colitis
The disease is characterized by acute intestinal dysbacteriosis, resulting from the use of antibiotics( tetracycline, ampicillin, levomycetin and others). In this case, there are:
- long-lasting diarrhea, often with blood and mucus;
- general intoxication;
- abdominal pain;
- increased number of leukocytes.
Since antibiotics, along with bad bacteria kill useful microflora, conditions for unhindered reproduction of clostridia are created. On the walls of the intestine they form a kind of plaque( pseudomembranes).
A bacterium is dangerous because it penetrates into the intestinal wall, it corrodes it, and as a result, the contents of the intestine get into the abdominal cavity. This leads to a fatal complication - peritonitis.
Necrotizing enteritis
In this case, the necro toxin secreted by clostridia causes necrosis of the intestinal wall, and as a result - its destruction. Ulcers and thrombosis of small vessels are formed, while in patients there is:
- diarrhea with foam and blood;
- profuse vomiting;
- high temperature.
Danger consists in perforation of ulcerous formations and bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea
Such diarrhea is due to the resistance of clostridia to the main groups of antibiotics. Most often observed in hospitals for the treatment of diseases requiring the use of these drugs. But the amount of antibiotics does not affect diarrhea, in the risk group - patients who have immunodeficiency and take cytotoxic drugs.
manifested by the following symptoms:
- temperature;
- general malaise;
- watery stool with mucus;
- pain in the navel area.
As the bacteria develop resistance to medicines, it is not uncommon for cases of recurrence of the disease in 5-7 days.
Foodborne Disease
Symptoms of the disease are not much different from other manifestations of toxic infection.
Clostridia, causing disease, enter the body most often with insufficiently thermally processed meat. In places of bowel involvement, inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane occur.
In this case, patients noted:
- vomiting with abundant foam;
- loose stool;
- temperature;
- abdominal pain.
Diagnosis
A primary diagnosis is made based on a clinical picture, or a link with injuries, eating certain foods, or using antimicrobials.
The diagnosis is confirmed after laboratory and instrumental studies:
- Primary Bacterioscopy.
- Bacteriological study to identify the pathogen. It takes material from wounds, feces and is sown in a nutrient medium under anaerobic conditions.
- Test for determination of clostridium toxins.
- X-ray to detect the accumulation of bacterial gas.
With pseudomembranous colitis, endoscopy is performed to determine the diffuse or focal distribution of pseudomembranes.
Treatment of
Patients with clostridia infections are immediately hospitalized, as their very life depends on this. Treatment includes:
- Atibiotikoterapiyu. Appointed drugs to which a particular pathogen has a susceptibility. With diarrhea caused by antibiotics, these drugs are canceled, and the doctor chooses adequate therapy.
- Introduction of special serums for the purpose of detoxification of toxins( immunoglobulin, tetanus or anti-botulinum serums).
- Surgical excision of damaged tissue with gas gangrene.
Symptomatic treatment, depending on clinical manifestations, is also performed. Can be appointed hepatoprotectors, probiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs.
With enteral clostridiosis with severe dehydration, one should drink a lot. Better special salt solutions, which allow you to compensate for not only the loss of moisture, but also electrolytes. There is one nuance - when an adult or a child has vomiting, it is difficult to drink. Therefore, the patient is usually drunk on a teaspoon every 3-5 minutes.
Prevention
Preventive measures include, first of all, personal hygiene, as well as:
- , meat heat treatment must be at least 1 hour;
- canned products that cause suspicion must be discarded immediately;
- obligatory washing of hands with soap after visiting the toilet;
- careful processing of fruits and vegetables from the garden.
The tetanus vaccine is administered to children at birth, but it only lasts 20 years. Therefore, adults need to be vaccinated every 10 years, since tetanus is much easier to prevent than cure.
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