Clostridium perfringens NCTC 8237

Log reduction at 5 minutes 5.69

Log reduction at 30 minutes 6.75

What does Clostridium difficile cause?

Diarrhoea is the most common symptom but abdominal pain and fever may also occur. In the majority of patients, the illness is mild and full recovery is usual, although elderly patients may become seriously ill with dehydration (loss of water from the body) as a consequence of the diarrhoea.
Occasionally patients may develop a severe form of the disease, with serious damage to the intestine, or perforation of the intestine (a hole in the intestine) or death. There are some strains of C. difficile that are more likely to lead to serious disease, and certain hospitals in the UK have experienced outbreaks with these strains.