noun
- plural of clostridium; rod-shaped bacteria that form spores and can cause diseases such as tetanus and botulism
Usage: medical; microbiology
Examples
- Clostridia are commonly found in soil and the intestinal tract of humans and animals.
- The laboratory identified several species of clostridia in the contaminated samples.
- Some clostridia produce dangerous toxins that can cause serious illness.
- Researchers studied how clostridia survive in oxygen-free environments.
- The wound infection was caused by pathogenic clostridia.
- Clostridia can remain dormant as spores for extended periods.