Fact Sheet

Information about Clostridium Sordellii

Released: November 23, 2005

Questions and Answers

What is C. sordellii?

Clostridium sordellii (“klaw-strĭ-dee-um sore-dell-ee-I”) is a rare bacterium that causes pneumonia, endocarditis, arthritis, peritonitis, and myonecrosis. C. sordellii bacteremia and sepsis occur rarely. Most cases of sepsis from C. sordellii occur in patients with underlying conditions. Severe toxic shock syndrome among previously healthy persons has been described in a small number of C. sordellii cases, most often associated with gynecologic infections in women and infection of the umbilical stump in newborns.

Who gets C. sordellii Toxic Shock Syndrome?

Women are at highest risk of infection from C. sordellii following a live birth, spontaneous, medical, or surgical abortion. Of the 10 cases described in the literature prior to the recent U.S. cases associated with medical abortion, eight occurred following delivery of live-born infants, one occurred following a medical abortion, and one was not associated with pregnancy. The rate of vaginal colonization (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) with Clostridium species in the period after abortion has been reported to be as high as 29%, whereas these bacteria have been isolated in the vaginal secretions of 5%-10% of non-pregnant women.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of a C. sordellii infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes abdominal pain without fever. These symptoms often can occur in women after live birth or following a spontaneous, medical, or surgical abortion, so it is important to see your doctor for further tests if you are symptomatic.

How is C. sordellii spread?

It is not known how C. sordellii is spread between persons or from the environment to persons. Other similar Clostridium species are spread from person to person and sometimes, contaminated surfaces are involved in this transmission. Tests performed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not detected contamination with C. sordellii of either of the medications used in medical abortions. Read more from the FDA.

What is CDC doing to address this issue?

CDC experts in microbiology, epidemiology, and peri-natalogy (pregnancy-related complications) are working together with state and local health agencies and the FDA in the investigation of recent deaths associated with C. sordellii. CDC is working with FDA to make the clinical and public health communities aware of research findings and to better identify the risks that may be associated with medical abortion. CDC will support FDA in identifying other potential cases, evaluating existing data sources, and continuing to monitor medical abortions in an effort to decrease infection risks associated with this procedure.

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Date last modified: July 22, 2005
Content source: 
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases