Antibiotic sensitivity of Clostridium perfringens and L-forms of C. perfringens induced by bacteriocin

Abstract

Ninety strains of Clostridium perfringens were tested with 8 to 10 different antibiotics by the Kirby-Bauer disc method for determining bacterial sensitivity. The results of these tests were compared with previously established bacteriocin sensitivities of these strains. Twenty-three of the above strains were converted to L-forms by growth in soft agar overlays on plates containing a bacteriocin of C. perfringens and these were tested with eight antibiotics. A marked resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, and methicillin was apparent in the L-form growth as compared to the degree of sensitivity obtained with the normal growth of C. perfringens.