gas gangrene / Clostridial myonecrosis

see also:

• necrotizing fasciitis
• Fournier's gangrene
• tetanus
• Clostridium sp.

• a rapidly progressing life threatening infection of muscle tissue resulting in muscle necrosis, gas formation and sepsis

• usually caused by the anaerobic Gram positive Clostridium perfringens which has gained access to muscle tissue

• traumatic injury esp. dirty contaminated wounds
• surgical wounds - especially abdominal
• intramuscular injections (especially into gluteals)
• may be spontaneous in those with immunocompromise