Editing Clostridium perfringens (section)

== Diagnosis ==
The diagnosis of ''Clostridium perfringens'' food poisoning relies on laboratory detection of the bacterium or its toxin in either a patient’s stool sample or contaminated food linked to the illness. A positive stool culture would have growth of at least 10 cfu/g of C. ''perfringens''. Stool studies include [[White blood cell|WBCs]], [[Egg cell|ova]], and parasites in order to rule out other potential [[etiologies]]. [[ELISA]] testing is used to detect the CPA toxin. Diagnosing ''C. perfringens'' food poisoning is relatively uncommon for several reasons.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Yao |first1=Phil Y. |title=Clostridium perfringens Infection |date=2024 |work=StatPearls |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559049/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=32644475 |last2=Annamaraju |first2=Pavan}}</ref> Most individuals with this foodborne illness do not seek medical care or submit a stool sample for testing, and routine testing for ''C. perfringens'' is not typically performed in clinical laboratories. Additionally, public health laboratories generally conduct testing for this pathogen only in the event of an outbreak.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CDC |date=2024-05-13 |title=Diagnosing C. perfringens food poisoning |url=https://www.cdc.gov/clostridium-perfringens/testing/index.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Clostridium perfringens Food Poisoning |language=en-us}}</ref>

The diagnosis of gas gangrene typically involves several methods to confirm the infection. Imaging techniques such as [[X-ray]]s, [[CT scan]]s, or [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRIs]] can reveal gas bubbles or tissue changes indicative of muscle damage. Additionally, bacterial staining or culture of fluid taken from the wound helps identify ''Clostridium perfringens'' and other bacteria responsible for the infection. In some cases, a [[biopsy]] is performed, where a sample of the affected tissue is analyzed for signs of damage or necrosis.<ref name=":5" />

The diagnosis of clostridial necrotizing enteritis is primarily based on the patient's clinical symptoms, which can include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Additionally, confirmation of the presence of ''Clostridium perfringens'' [[Toxin-antitoxin system|type C toxin]] in stool samples is crucial for accurate diagnosis.<ref name=":6" />