Enumeration of Clostridium welchii in the faeces of varying sections of the human population

Abstract

A method of doing viable counts of Cl. welchii has been described that gives reproducible results from faeces. By this method counts were carried out on the faeces of persons in the general population, and those associated with an outbreak of food poisoning due to Cl. welchii. There was a significant increase in viable count in those with symptoms of food poisoning. Owing to many variables, single viable counts do not appear to be useful in the laboratory diagnosis of food poisoning, but the detection of heat-resistant spores, by direct culture after boiling, may be of some use. More work must be carried out to substantiate this point.