Gas gangrene

Gas gangrene is a serious but rare form of bacterial infection that occurs when a pressure ulcer becomes infected with the clostridium bacteria. It is a form of necrotizing myositis.

The bacteria thrive in environments where there is little or no oxygen (anaerobic). They produce gases and release dangerous toxin, over tissues where there is gangrene. Symptoms of gas gangrene include severe pain and rapid swelling of the skin. Gas gangrene requires immediate treatment (it is a medical emergency). In the most serious of cases, it may be necessary perform surgery to amputate (debridement) on the affected body part to prevent the gangrene from spreading to the rest of the body. It can cause sepsis. 

 Symptoms 
There is quick onset of:
 myonecrosis 
 the supply of blood is cut off from the skeletal muscle and it dies (skeletal muscle infarct) 
 muscle swelling 
 gas production
 sepsis
 severe pain
 Risk factors include 
Risk is increased in:
 diabetes
 trauma
 malignancy (cancer)
 Treatment 
 remove all dead tissue (eg amputation) (debridement) 
Benzylpenicillin with or without clindamycin. 

Hyperbaric oxygen can improve survival and lower the number of debridements.

 Related pages 
 Necrotizing fasciitis
 Gangrene 

 References

Category:Health problems