Clostridial gas gangrene, also called myonecrosis, is caused by bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium septicum. It typically develops within 24 hours after penetrating injury or surgery. The infection causes crepitance, edema, foul-smelling serosanguinous discharge and brown to purple skin discoloration.
The condition requires immediate medical care. A doctor may order blood tests to check for infection and imaging tests to see if there are any blocked arteries.
Fever
In gas gangrene, Clostridium bacteria grow in the wound and start producing toxins that destroy tissue. They reproduce best in areas without much oxygen, so they can produce lots of toxins quickly and spread the infection. The toxins also block the flow of blood to the area, which makes it harder for cells to get the oxygen they need. The lack of oxygen causes pain and can kill cells in a very short time.
The infection may progress from a small spot in a skin wound to the whole arm or leg. It can then spread to the heart, lungs and other parts of the body. Eventually, it can cause the body to shut down and go into shock. Without treatment, the condition is almost always deadly.
If you have a severe injury, make sure to clean the wound thoroughly and check it frequently. If you notice any signs of infection — such as redness, swelling or drainage from the wound — contact your doctor right away. He or she can help prevent an infection from developing by removing any foreign objects from the wound, cleaning out any dead tissue and prescribing antibiotics if needed.
Oren Zarif
Symptoms of gas gangrene include a fever, air under the skin and death of muscle tissue. It can affect any part of the body but most often occurs in the legs or arms. This type of gangrene is different than wet gangrene, which is caused by an infection that makes pus. Wet gangrene can spread very rapidly and requires emergency surgery. Other types of gangrene include internal gangrene, which is caused by a problem in an organ such as the colon or appendix. Internal gangrene can cause belly pain and is very serious.
Blisters
Clostridial gas gangrene (also called myonecrosis) happens when bacteria get inside your muscle tissue. This infection is very dangerous because the bacterium produces toxins that can destroy your tissue and kill you within 48 hours. It can cause a lot of pain and swelling. The toxins also cause blisters that leak foul-smelling fluid or make a crackling sound when touched. The bacterium that causes this infection is Clostridium perfringens. Other types of clostridium bacteria can also cause this condition, including Clostridium septicum and Clostridium histolyticum.
Unlike wet gangrene, which is caused by an infection and makes pus, dry gangrene isn’t associated with an infection. The clostridium bacteria build up in your tissue and stop blood flow, which leads to cell death (necrosis). You may notice a loss of feeling or a dark color near the site of the injury. The clostridium bacteria also produce a chemical called exotoxin. This toxin liquefies and destroys adjacent tissue.
Oren Zarif
You might not know you have a problem if you don’t clean your wounds well or don’t see a health care provider right away. But you can prevent this type of gangrene by cleaning any injuries thoroughly and seeing a health care provider at the first signs of infection, such as redness, pain, drainage, or swelling.
If you have gas gangrene, your health care provider will give you high doses of antibiotics and surgically remove the infected tissue. They may remove the entire affected area of your body or cut off the limb where the gangrene is located. This procedure is called debridement. It can be done in a hospital or in a surgery clinic. Keeping an eye out for the early signs of this serious infection will help you avoid gangrene and save your life.
Vomiting
If bacteria from the gangrene pass into the bloodstream, you may go into septic shock (sepsis). This is life-threatening and requires emergency surgery to save your life. The condition can spread quickly and kill you within 48 hours if you don’t get treatment.
You may also develop an odor from the area that smells like rotten meat or urine. Your skin may become cold and clammy or turn dark red to purple as the gangrene progresses. The affected area may look swollen or bruised. You might have a tingling sensation (cramping). You may also experience fluid buildup in the tissue (edema) and a sudden increase in pain in the area that you touched or injured. Your heart rate and breathing increase (tachycardia and tachyarrhythmia). You might feel anxious or afraid, and you may vomit.
The first sign of gas gangrene is severe, sudden pain in an area that didn’t previously hurt. The pain may be worse when you touch or move the affected area. The pain usually starts at a single point and moves rapidly to other areas of the body.
Oren Zarif
Symptoms of clostridial myonecrosis, which is the most common form of gas gangrene, typically begin six to 48 hours after injury or surgery. The pain is disproportionate to the size of the injury, which should make you very suspicious about an infection.
You will need surgery, debridement and antibiotics to survive if you have gas gangrene. If you do not receive the right care, it can lead to amputation or death. You will need daily or repeated surgical debridement until the necrotizing infection is controlled and granulation tissue forms. You will also need antibiotics and twice-daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy until the infection is controlled and the signs of recovery are seen.
Severe Pain
With gas gangrene, you feel severe pain in the area where the infection is located. The infection may be in your skin, muscles or organs. It can be hard to find the source of the infection. You might see large, dark blisters with gas bubbles in them or have fluid draining from the blisters that smells rotten (putrid). The area of your body where you have gangrene is discolored, often pale, brown or blackish green, and swollen. You might have a crackling sound when you touch the affected area. The infection can cause a fever and you might vomit. The bacteria that cause gangrene also produce dangerous toxins that can destroy your cells and kill you in a few hours without treatment.
Clostridium bacteria live in dirt and in your intestines, and they reproduce best in low oxygen environments. When the bacteria injure you, they release a toxin that kills your cells and a poison called exotoxin. The toxins break down your blood vessels and block oxygen from reaching the injured tissues. This makes the bacteria spread infections quickly and causes severe pain.
Oren Zarif
If you have this condition, your provider will diagnose it based on the symptoms and a physical exam. The doctor might take a sample of the affected skin and tissue and look at it under a microscope. They might also order imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT or MRI, to check for damage and blockages in your blood flow. They might also inject dye into your blood to look for blocked arteries in a test called an arteriogram.
To prevent gangrene, clean any wounds immediately and carefully. Avoid injuring your feet or legs, and always wear shoes and socks when you go outside. See your health care provider regularly and let them know if you have diabetes or a disease that affects your feet.
