All of the following are true about Clostridium perfringens, EXCEPT:
High-Yield Explanation
Clostridium perfringens causes approximately 80% of cases of gas gangrene. All types of C perfringens produce the alpha toxin, a necrotizing, hemolytic exotoxin that is a lecithinase. The spores of some C perfringens strains are often paicularly heat-resistant and can withstand temperatures of 100degC for an hour or more. Smears of tissue and exudate samples show large gram-positive rods. C. perfringens colonies exhibit a double zone of hemolysis on blood agar. Egg yolk agar is used to demonstrate the presence of the lecithinase. Serologic tests are not useful. Ref: Brooks G.F. (2013). Chapter 21. Infections Caused by Anaerobic Bacteria. In G.F. Brooks (Ed), Jawetz, Melnick, & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 26e.