Clostridium species

• Genus of anaerobic Gram-positive bacilli
• Includes:
  • Clostridium tetani, which causes tetanus
  • Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism
  • Clostridium perfringens, which causes traumatic clostridial myonecrosis
  • Clostridium sordellii, associated with septic abortion
  • Clostridium septicum, associated with gastrointestinal malignancy and neutropenia
  • Clostridium novyi
  • Clostridium histolyticum
• Previously included Clostridioides difficile, which causes severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea