Clostridium perfringens - clinical information

Incubation period

8 to 22 hours (usually 12 to 18 hours).

Common clinical features

Diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Reservoir

Gastrointestinal tract of food animals, soil and dust.

Transmission

Contaminated cooked meat and poultry dishes subjected to inadequate temperature control after cooking, during cooling, and storage.

Other relevant features

C. perfringens enterotoxin is produced after ingestion, but not in foods.