ABSTRACT
Clostridium sordellii was considered merely as a common soil and enteric bacterium that was infrequently recovered from the vagina.
C. sordellii has been shown to cause puerperal infection and a distinctive and lethal toxic shock-like syndrome (Table 33.1). The clinicopathologic manifestations and significant morbidity and mortality described with these infections have been linked to the elaboration of two unique exoproteins: edema-producing, or lethal, toxin (LT) and hemorrhagic toxin (HT). Strains with the capacity to produce LT and HT have been associated with puerperal wound infections that are accompanied by anasarca and a clinical picture of septic shock.
