clostridium

noun

clos·​trid·​i·​um klä-ˈstri-dē-əm 

plural clostridia klä-ˈstri-dē-ə 

: any of a genus (Clostridium) of spore-forming mostly anaerobic soil or intestinal bacteria see botulinum, c. diff, gas gangrene, tetanus

clostridial

klä-ˈstri-dē-əl 

adjective

Examples of clostridium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Raw turkey can be contaminated with harmful bacteria such as salmonella, clostridium perfringens and campylobacter, which could lead to food poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Sylvan Lebrun, Chicago Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024

It’s got an extra strain of probiotic bacteria in there (clostridium, for the curious), which is noteworthy, as many probiotics merely contain one strain. —Sean Evans, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2024

Similarly, these infections vary in length, from 24 hours (clostridium perfringens) to upwards of a week (campylobacter). —Elizabeth Bacharach, Women's Health, 29 Aug. 2023

Meanwhile, its clostridium has produced over 50 million gallons of ethanol, avoiding more than 250,000 tons of CO2 emissions. —Lauren Oster, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023

Advertisement Specifically, a team of forensic scientists from Denmark, Canada, and Chile found clostridium botulinum in Neruda’s remains, a neurotoxin that can cause Botulism. —Diego Lasarte, Quartz, 15 Feb. 2023

But crucially, the researchers also found in one of Mr. Neruda’s molars traces of the bacterium clostridium botulinum. —Jack Nicas, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023

The drug, called Rebyota, is given as a one-dose treatment for clostridium difficile infections, commonly known as C. diff., in which the toxin-producing bacteria disrupts the normal balance in a person’s digestive system. —Kate Sheridan and Allison Deangelis, STAT, 30 Nov. 2022

If not professionally treated, human waste and other body fluids can spread dangerous diseases such as hepatitis A, clostridium difficile, e-coli, rotavirus and norovirus, MDARD added. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Greek klōstēr spindle, from klōthein to spin

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

clostridium

noun

clos·​trid·​i·​um kläs-ˈtrid-ē-əm 

1

capitalized : a genus of saprophytic rod-shaped or spindle-shaped usually gram-positive bacteria (family Clostridiaceae) that are anaerobic or require very little free oxygen and are nearly cosmopolitan in soil, water, sewage, and animal and human intestines, that are very active biochemically comprising numerous fermenters of carbohydrates with vigorous production of acid and gas, many nitrogen-fixers, and others which rapidly putrefy proteins, and that include important pathogens see blackleg, botulism, c. diff, gas gangrene, tetanus bacillus

2

plural clostridia -ē-ə 

a

: any bacterium of the genus Clostridium

b

: a spindle-shaped or ovoid bacterial cell

especially : one swollen at the center by an endospore

clostridial

-ē-əl 

adjective