Vaccination
Clostridium Perfringens: The Leading Cause Of Food Poisoning
Clostridium perfringens (C. Perfringens) is a type of bacteria linked to food poisoning. It is the most common cause of food poisoning in the United States. Symptoms of C. Perfringens food poisoning last a day or two and include stomach cramps, watery diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
Although C. Perfringens food poisoning is usually not serious, the bacterium is also linked to more severe wound infections, such as gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis) and anaerobic cellulitis. C. Perfringens is frequently found in human and animal intestines, soil, and in areas contaminated by human and animal feces.
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C. Perfringens Signs and Symptoms If you eat food contaminated with C. Perfringens, you may start to experience symptoms within six to 24 hours. The illness will begin suddenly and last between 24 and 48 hours. Symptoms of a C. Perfringens gastrointestinal illness can include: Abdominal pain Gas and bloating Stomach cramps Watery diarrhea Food poisoning due to C. Perfringens does not usually cause fever or vomiting. How Do You Get C. Perfringens–Related Food Poisoning? C. Perfringens food poisoning results from eating improperly cooked and stored foods. Bacteria are typically found on food after cooking, and if the food sits out for an extended length of time before refrigerating, bacteria can multiply and lead to C. Perfringens food poisoning. When you eat contaminated food, toxins will be released into the gastrointestinal tract, causing food poisoning symptoms. Outbreaks of C. Perfringens food poisoning often occur in settings where food is served to large groups and it's harder to keep food at proper temperatures. Such settings include hospitals, school cafeterias, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and large events with catered food. Most outbreaks of C. Perfringens food poisoning occur in November and December. They are typically linked to popular holiday foods, including turkey and roast beef. While food poisoning from C. Perfringens can affect anyone, young children and older adults are at increased risk for severe illness from the bacterium. Foods Commonly Contaminated When food is kept at unsafe temperatures (between 40 and 140 degrees F), C. Perfringens can grow and multiply. After the bacterium is consumed, it may produce a toxin that causes the host to become sick. Foods commonly linked to C. Perfringens food poisoning include: Gravies Meat (beef and pork) Poultry (turkey and chicken) Raw vegetables Shrimp Soups Are There Complications? The symptoms of C. Perfringens food poisoning typically resolve within a day or two. However, fatal diseases can occur in older adults and immunocompromised people (those with a weakened immune system from illnesses or medications). Complications may include dehydration and sepsis: Dehydration: Diarrhea can cause you to lose fluids faster than they can be replaced. Drink plenty of water and fluids to prevent dehydration, even if your diarrhea is mild. If you have severe diarrhea and vomiting, you should see a healthcare provider so they can help you avoid or treat dehydration. Sepsis: If the C. Perfringens gets into the bloodstream, it can destroy blood cells and lead to sepsis, a life-threatening response to an infection. Testing Your healthcare provider can diagnose food poisoning based on your symptoms. It typically does not require lab testing or determining the exact organism responsible, although tests can be performed on stool samples or food. If there is a community health outbreak, public health officials may test possible food sources for C. perfringens. How Do I Take Care of Myself? You can manage food poisoning at home, and the condition is usually short-lived. It is a good idea to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids as soon as diarrhea or vomiting starts. You can drink water or oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte. Rather than taking over-the-counter (OTC) stomach remedies, wait for the food poisoning to run its course. Rest and consume foods that are easy to tolerate and digest, such as the BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Eating small meals with very little fat can help you manage symptoms, stay nourished, and keep food down. How to Prevent Food Poisoning A primary way to avoid food poisoning is to take precautions when heating, storing, and serving foods. You can do this by: Avoiding foods that have been sitting out for more than one hour Cooking foods to safe temperatures Keeping food below 40 degrees F or above 140 degrees F Not leaving prepared foods out for longer than two hours Refrigerating and freezing meats, poultry, and seafood right away Washing food prep and eating surfaces and utensils before and after use Washing hands before and after food preparation and eating When to Contact a Healthcare Provider While food poisoning generally does not require medical care, you should still pay attention to more severe symptoms, such as a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher or bloody diarrhea. You will also want to see a healthcare provider if symptoms do not improve within 48 hours. People with compromised immune systems, pregnant people, older adults, and people with other risk factors should see a healthcare provider for food poisoning. For other types of food poisoning caused by bacteria or parasites, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics or medications to target parasites. Antibiotics bacteria and cannot be used to treat infections caused by viruses. When to Go to the ER Most people can treat food poisoning at home. However, you should seek out emergency care for more severe symptoms. Severe symptoms of food poisoning that require a visit to an emergency room visit include: Blood in vomit or stool Extreme abdominal pain High fever Severe dehydration Other Conditions Caused by C. Perfringens Gas gangrene is a rare bacterial infection that destroys blood cells and soft tissues. C. Perfringens bacteria mainly cause it. If you experience a gas gangrene infection, your symptoms may include pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area. Additional symptoms of gas gangrene include: Air under the skin (subcutaneous emphysema) Blisters Foul-smelling tissue drainage Increased heart rate Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes due to a buildup of the compound bilirubin in bile) Moderate to high fever Pale skin color that changes to dusky, dark red, purple, or black (but may be hard to see with darker skin tones) Sweating If gas gangrene is not treated, it can lead to low blood pressure, kidney failure, or coma. Anaerobic cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection. The symptoms of an anaerobic infection may vary based on the location and severity of the infection but may include: Bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth Constipation Diarrhea Nausea or vomiting Pain or discomfort in the affected skin area Redness or discoloration Skin rashes or lesions Swelling In some cases, an anaerobic infection may not cause symptoms until it becomes severe and spreads to multiple body areas. Summary The Clostridium perfringens bacterium is the most common cause of food poisoning. This bacteria is found in the intestines of people and animals and is present in soil and animal and human feces. This type of food poisoning results from eating improperly cooked or stored food or food that is not at proper temperatures. Commonly infected foods include meats, poultry, seafood, raw vegetables, and gravies. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and diarrhea. They typically start six to 24 hours after eating contaminated foods and will improve within 24 to 48 hours. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, so you will need to drink plenty of fluids, including water and oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte. Contact your healthcare provider for more severe symptoms or if symptoms do not improve after 48 hours. Go to an emergency room if you experience severe abdominal pain or dehydration, bloody diarrhea or vomit, or a high fever. You can manage C. Perfringens food poisoning at home by resting, staying hydrated, and eating bland foods.Treating E-coli Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by the E. Coli bacteria, which are treated with antibiotics. But some strains may be resistant to common antibiotic types.
A UTI occurs when germs (bacteria) invade the urinary tract. It's incredibly common, and while males assigned at birth (MAABs) aren't immune, females assigned at birth (FAABs) are 30 times more likely to develop a UTI, mostly because of the structure of their urinary tract.
For the most part, E. Coli lives harmlessly in your gut. But it can cause problems if it enters your urinary system, usually from stool that migrates into the urethra.
Because E. Coli is a bacteria, treatment usually involves antibiotics. However, antibiotic resistance can sometimes make treatment difficult.
To determine if there are bacteria in your urine, you'll need to undergo a urinalysis. If your test comes back positive for E-coli, a doctor will likely prescribe one of several antibiotics that work to kill this bacteria.
The two antibiotics most commonly prescribed for an E. Coli-caused UTI are trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Sulfatrim) and nitrofurantoin (Macrobid).
Another antibiotic, pivmecillinam (Selexid, Pivya), was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may become available for prescribing in the near future.
If you have recurrent infections, or if your infection is severe, you may need to take antibiotics for a few months or may need injected antibiotics such as plazomicin (Zemdri).
Other than antibiotics, researchers are currently investigating the supplement d-mannose as a possible remedy for UTI.
A 2022 study suggests that consuming d-mannose may help prevent UTIs because this substance passes through the kidneys and attaches to E. Coli bacteria, helping prevent infection. That said, more study with a greater number of human subjects is necessary to confirm this.
A urinalysis only tells you that you have a bacterial infection, but to find out specifically which strain of bacteria is the cause, a urine culture is required.
This is important because bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Resistance occurs as bacteria naturally change to break down or avoid the antibiotics typically used to fight them.
The more exposure a bacterium gets to an antibiotic, the more likely it is to alter itself to survive. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics make the problem worse.
For this reason, a urine culture can help your doctor decide the best antibiotic or combination of antibiotics to fight your infection.
Other bacteria that may cause UTIs and may require a different combination of drugs include:
Even a healthy urinary tract can host a variety of bacteria, but this doesn't usually include E. Coli.
E. Coli often gains entry into the urinary tract via stool. FAABs are particularly at risk for UTIs because their urethra sits close to the anus, where E. Coli is present.
It's also shorter than that of MAABs, giving the bacteria easier access to the bladder, where the majority of UTIs occur, and the rest of the urinary tract.
Some factors that may raise the chance of getting an E-coli UTI include:
That said, there are some things you can do to reduce your chance of contracting it, including:
GSK Antibiotic Gepotidacin Clears Phase 3 Gonorrhoea Trial
GSK has reported topline results from a phase 3 trial of its novel antibiotic gepotidacin that could spell the end of a decades-long drought in new oral therapies for gonorrhoea.
In the EAGLE-1 trial, two oral doses of gepotidacin proved to be just as effective as standard combination therapy with intramuscular ceftriaxone plus oral azithromycin in resolving uncomplicated urogenital infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea.
Gepotidacin was non-inferior to ceftriaxone/azithromycin at achieving a microbiological response at the 'test-of-cure' clinical visit, which takes place between three and seven days after treatment starts.
Gonorrhoea was diagnosed in 82 million people in 2020 and, according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, ranks high among the agency's infectious diseases of greatest concern, as it is rapidly becoming resistant to available antimicrobial medicines.
If untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to infertility in both men and women and other sexual and reproductive health complications, as well as increasing the risk of HIV infection. In the US alone, case numbers increased 118% between 2009 and 2021, to reach more than 710,000 - an alarming increase, given that some so-called 'super-gonorrhoea' infections have become untreatable with all seven main antibiotic classes.
Gepotidacin is aiming to become the first triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic to reach the market and is also in late-stage testing for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs), another indication that has seen a dearth in new oral therapies. Positive data from two phase 3 uUTI studies – EAGLE-2 and EAGLE-2 – were reported last year.
It is one of two novel antibiotics that promise to provide much-needed new options for people with hard-to-treat gonorrhoea, along with Innoviva's bacterial type II topoisomerase inhibitor zoliflodacin, also chasing a first-in-class approval. In a phase 3 trial reported last year, zoliflodacin was also shown to be as effective as ceftriaxone/azithromycin at achieving microbiological cure.
Gepotidacin inhibits bacterial DNA replication by a novel mechanism of action and binding site, blocking two different type II topoisomerase enzymes, and has shown activity in the lab against multidrug-resistant strains of gonorrhoea and pathogens that cause UTIs, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, according to GSK.
The pharma group, meanwhile, has another iron in the fire for gonorrhoea in the shape of its N. Gonorrhoeae vaccine NgG, which is in phase 2 development and was awarded fast-track status from the FDA last year.
There are real concerns that we could be entering a post-antibiotic era, where even minor infections can be enough to kill patients, and by some estimates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could claim around 1.2 million lives per year globally by 2050 unless new drugs and other measures become available to control infections.
GSK is one of the few remaining big pharma companies carrying out R&D on new antibiotics, after a mass exodus from the category in the last few decades as companies struggled to get a return on R&D investment for drugs typically reserved for use when other therapies have failed.
The UK Government has made an effort to change that dynamic, launching a subscription payment model for new antibiotics that provides developers with a fixed annual access fee, regardless of how much is used to treat patients.
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