Gas gangrene 2685011 221994388 2008-06-27T01:26:26Z Sabedon 2083035 /* External links */ [[Category:Microbiology]] {{Infobox_Disease | Name = Gas gangrene | Image = | Caption = | DiseasesDB = 31141 | ICD10 = {{ICD10|A|48|0|a|30}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|040.0}} | ICDO = | OMIM = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicineSubj = med | eMedicineTopic = 843 | eMedicine_mult = {{eMedicine2|emerg|211}} {{eMedicine2|med|394}} | MeshID = D005738 | }} '''Gas gangrene''' is a [[bacteria]]l [[infection]] that produces [[gas]] within [[biological tissue|tissue]]s in [[gangrene]]. It is a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by [[Clostridium]] bacteria. It is a [[medical emergency]]. ==Features== Gas gangrene can cause [[myonecrosis]], gas production, and [[sepsis]]. Progression to [[toxemia]] and [[Shock (medical)|shock]] is often very rapid. ==Pathophysiology== Gas gangrene is caused by [[exotoxin]]-producing [[Clostridium|Clostridial]] species (most often ''[[Clostridium perfringens]]''), which is mostly found in soil but also found as normal [[gut flora]], and other [[anaerobe]]s (e.g. ''[[Bacteroides]]'' and anaerobic [[Streptococcus|streptococci]]). The exotoxin is commonly found in ''C. perfringens'' type A strain and is known as [[Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin|alpha toxin]]. These environmental bacteria may enter the muscle through a wound and go on to proliferate in necrotic tissue and secrete powerful toxins. These toxins destroy nearby tissue, generating gas at the same time. A gas composition of 5.9% hydrogen, 3.4% carbon dioxide, 74.5% nitrogen and 16.1% oxygen was reported in one clinical case.<ref>{{note|Chi}}{{cite journal | author=Chi CH, Chen KW, Huang JJ, Chuang YC, Wu MH | title=Gas composition in Clostridium septicum gas gangrene | journal=J Formos Med Assoc | year=1995 | pages=757–9 | volume=94 | issue=12 | pmid=8541740}}</ref> ==Treatment== Treatment is usually [[debridement]] and [[excision]] with amputation necessary in many cases. [[Antibiotic]]s alone are not effective because they don't penetrate [[ischemic]] [[muscle]]s enough to be effective. However, penicillin is given as an [[adjuvant treatment]] to surgery. In addition to surgery and antibiotics, [[hyperbaric oxygen therapy]] (HBOT) is used and acts to inhibit the growth of and kill the anaerobic C. perfringens.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Hart GB, Strauss MB |title=Gas Gangrene - Clostridial Myonecrosis: A Review |journal=J. Hyperbaric Med |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=125–144 |year=1990 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4428 |accessdate=2008-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Zamboni WA, Riseman JA, Kucan JO |title=Management of Fournier's Gangrene and the role of Hyperbaric Oxygen |journal=J. Hyperbaric Med |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=177–186 |year=1990 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4431 |accessdate=2008-05-16}}</ref> ==References== <references/> ==External links== * {{GPnotebook|1664417799}} [[Category:Diseases]] [[Category:Microbiology]] {{disease-stub}} {{Bacterial diseases}} [[de:Gasbrand]] [[hr:Plinska gangrena]] [[ja:ガス壊疽]] [[pl:Zgorzel gazowa]] [[pt:Gangrena gasosa]] [[ru:Гангрена газовая]]