Gas gangrene

Gas gangrene (also known as clostridial myonecrosis) is a <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacterial</a> <a href="/facts/Infection/182XrncP">infection</a> that produces <a href="/facts/Tissue_gas/hhfqd8Sm">tissue gas</a> in <a href="/facts/Gangrene/5AqvjjSj">gangrene</a>. This deadly form of gangrene usually is caused by <a href="/facts/Clostridium_perfringens/hhfqd8Sm">Clostridium perfringens</a> bacteria. About 1,000 cases of gas gangrene are reported yearly in the United States.
Myonecrosis is a condition of <a href="/facts/Necrosis/zCPsTeWx">necrotic</a> damage, specific to <a href="/facts/Muscle/dmxrL8pH">muscle tissue</a>. It is often seen in infections with C. perfringens or any of myriad soil-borne <a href="/facts/Anaerobic_bacteria/bhQnlqCq">anaerobic bacteria</a>. Bacteria cause myonecrosis by specific <a href="/facts/Exotoxin/j18H60P0">exotoxins</a>. These <a href="/facts/Microorganism/pysJYcE2">microorganisms</a> are <a href="/facts/Opportunistic_infection/d6ndMynw">opportunistic</a> and, in general, enter the body through significant skin breakage. Gangrenous infection by soil-borne bacteria was common in the combat injuries of soldiers well into the 20th century, because of non-sterile <a href="/facts/Battlefield_medicine/Js4cYwBQ">field surgery</a> and the basic nature of care for severe projectile wounds.
Other causes of myonecrosis include <a href="/facts/Envenomation/WKXBo6xT">envenomation</a> by snakes of the genus <a href="/facts/Bothrops/9mALQp0w">Bothrops</a> (family <a href="/facts/Viperidae/rS5298vz">Viperidae</a>), <a href="/facts/Ischemia/ySL9xbCl">ischemic</a> necrosis, caused by vascular blockage (e.g., diabetes type II), <a href="/facts/Tumour/K0ytzmPz">tumours</a> that block or hoard blood supply, and <a href="/facts/Disseminated_intravascular_coagulation/CuWaSKQW">disseminated intravascular coagulation</a> or other <a href="/facts/Thrombosis/8Y3wh2UX">thromboses</a>.

Gas gangrene open-in-new

Gas gangrene