Direct detection of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin in patients' stools during an outbreak of food poisoning

An outbreak of diarrhoea in a hotel affected 25 time keepers attending the 1997, Mediterranean Games. Epidemiological investigation implicated a 'past a a ragu' consumed at the hotels restaurant and Clostridium perfringens foo d poisoning was identified by direct detection of C. perfringens enterotoxi n in patients stools. This report confirms that a careful evaluation of epi demiological features, together with the availability of direct and rapid l aboratory methods, may lead to a prompt identification of C. perfringens fo od poisioning. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. P ublished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.