What to Do If You Get Clostridium perfringens

Recognize Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Care

C. perfringens typically causes cramping, abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea without fever or vomiting, distinguishing it from other foodborne illnesses. Symptoms usually resolve within 24 hours, but the infection can occasionally cause more severe complications, particularly in elderly or immunocompromised individuals. If you experience severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea, persistent symptoms beyond 48 hours, or signs of sepsis (fever, chills, rapid heartbeat), contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency care immediately. For mild cases, rest and oral rehydration with electrolyte solutions are usually sufficient; antibiotics are not routinely recommended and may not alter illness duration.

Report Your Illness to Your Local Health Department

Most U.S. states and local health departments require healthcare providers to report confirmed C. perfringens cases, but you can also report directly to your local health department if your doctor doesn't. Contact your county or city health department's disease surveillance division—find yours via your state's health department website or CDC's state health department directory. When reporting, provide details about what you ate, where you purchased or consumed the food, when symptoms began, and anyone else who became ill after the same meal. Your report triggers investigation into the source and helps prevent additional exposures, especially if a food service or retail facility is implicated.

Check for Active Outbreaks and Monitor Updates

The CDC's outbreak investigation database and FDA's enforcement reports track confirmed C. perfringens outbreaks, typically linked to improperly cooked or cooled meats, poultry, and gravies. You can search the CDC's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) reports and the FDA's Enforcement Reports online to see if your illness matches a known outbreak. Panko Alerts monitors 25+ government sources—including the FDA, FSIS, CDC, and local health departments—in real time, automatically notifying you of recalls and outbreaks linked to products you may have consumed. If you believe your illness is part of a larger outbreak, provide your local health department with specific product names, lot codes, and purchase dates to aid their investigation.

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