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Characteristics
Morphology
Gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria. Vegetative cells are rod shaped and arranged in pairs or short chains. Several species produce toxins.
Disease

Clostridial bacteremia, clostridial myonecrosis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), toxic shock syndrome.
Zoonosis
None.
Health Hazards
Host Range
Gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates and invertebrates.
Modes of Transmission
Contamination of wound sites and breaches in gastrointestinal tract.
Signs and Symptoms 
Symptoms can vary greatly but will typically include fever, chills, and leukocytosis, NEC: ischemic necrosis of the intestinal mucosa.
Infectious Dose Unknown.
Incubation Period 
6 hours to 3 days for clostridial myonecrosis.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis Cleaning any wound sites with an antiseptic; antibiotic may be prescribed.
Vaccines None.
Treatment
Antibiotic treatment and surgical removal of infected tissue.
Surveillance Monitor for symptoms.
MSU Requirements Report any exposures
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
At least six cases of laboratory-acquired infections with Clostridium spp. have been reported.
 Sources
Blood, feces, or biopsy and/or wound samples, cultures, frozen stocks, other samples described in IBC protocol.
Supplemental References
BMBL:
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Canada PSDS:
NIH Guidelines:
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures involving infected animals
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
2% aqueous glutaraldehyde within 3 hours, 8% formaldehyde, 20 ppm sodium hypochlorite. Clostridium spores are resistant to ethyl and propyl alcohols.
Inactivation
Inactivated by moist heat (60 minutes at 121oC) and dry heat (1 hour at 160-170oC).
Survival Outside Host
Clostridium spp. are able to form resistant endospores which are ubiquitous in the environment.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.