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Gas gangrene (also known as clostridial myonecrosis [1]) is a bacterial infection that produces tissue gas in gangrene. This deadly form of gangrene usually is caused by Clostridium perfringens bacteria. About 1,000 cases of gas gangrene are reported yearly in the United States. [2] Myonecrosis is a condition of necrotic damage, specific to ...
Clostridium perfringens is the most common bacterial agent for gas gangrene. [47] Gas gangrene is induced by α-toxin that embeds itself into the plasma membrane of cells and disrupts normal cellular function by altering membrane structure. [43] Some symptoms include blisters, tachycardia, swelling, and jaundice. [47]
Gas gangrene is a bacterial infection that produces gas within tissues. It can be caused by Clostridium, most commonly alpha toxin-producing C. perfringens, or various nonclostridial species. [9] [19] Infection spreads rapidly as the gases produced by the bacteria expand and infiltrate healthy tissue in the vicinity.
This toxin has been shown to be the key virulence factor in infection with C. perfringens; the bacterium is unable to cause disease without this toxin. [1] Further, vaccination against the alpha toxin toxoid protects mice against C. perfringens gas gangrene. [2]
Clostridium perfringens causes a wide range of symptoms, from food poisoning to cellulitis, fasciitis, necrotic enteritis and gas gangrene. [16] [17] Clostridium tetani causes tetanus. Several more pathogenic species, that were previously described in Clostridium, have been found to belong to other genera. [6]
Type II infection more commonly affects young, healthy adults with a history of injury. [2] Type III infection: Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium found in saltwater, rarely causes NF after it is introduced into the body through a break in the skin. [12] One in three patients with a V. vulnificus infection develop necrotizing fasciitis. [12]
Welch's research was principally in bacteriology, and he is the discoverer of the organism that causes gas gangrene. It was named Clostridium welchii in recognition of that fact, but now the organism usually is designated as Clostridium perfringens.
Clostridium septicum [1] is a gram positive, spore forming, obligate anaerobic bacterium. Clostridium septicum can cause gas gangrene, but unlike other Clostridium species like Clostridium perfringens, no trauma is necessary at the site of the infection. It is thought that the infection is established by hematogenous spread from the ...