Gas Gangrene is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

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PATHOGENS

Common clostridial species causing gas gangrene:

  • Clostridium perfringens
    • Most commonly identified organism.
    • Produces > 20 exotoxins, including lethal Alpha and Beta toxins that cause necrosis and hemolysis.
  • Clostridium novyi  
  • Clostridium septicum  
  • Clostridium histolyticum  
  • Clostridium sordellii (seen with toxic shock after childbirth, users of contaminated heroin injections and patients with malignancy)
    • Review of spontaneous C. sordelli-associated gas gangrene found that known or occult malignancy was seen in 71% of the 94 patients in the literature; overall mortality was 67%[3].

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PATHOGENS

Common clostridial species causing gas gangrene:

  • Clostridium perfringens
    • Most commonly identified organism.
    • Produces > 20 exotoxins, including lethal Alpha and Beta toxins that cause necrosis and hemolysis.
  • Clostridium novyi  
  • Clostridium septicum  
  • Clostridium histolyticum  
  • Clostridium sordellii (seen with toxic shock after childbirth, users of contaminated heroin injections and patients with malignancy)
    • Review of spontaneous C. sordelli-associated gas gangrene found that known or occult malignancy was seen in 71% of the 94 patients in the literature; overall mortality was 67%[3].

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Last updated: August 9, 2019