Clostridium perfringens pleuropulmonary infection and septic shock: case report and population-based laboratory surveillance study.

We report a rare case of necrotizing pneumonia, empyema, and septic shock caused by Clostridium perfringens. Population-based laboratory surveillance was subsequently conducted that identified an annual incidence of invasive C. perfringens disease of 0.83 per 100,000 population with a striking age-related increased risk for acquisition.