Gas Gangrene

• Causative agents: Clostridium septicum, C. novyi, C. perfringens, C. sordelli
• Normally in soil
• Bacteria gain entry as spores via penetrating wounds
• Serohaemorrhagic myositis
• If only subcutis and fascia are involved - malignant oedema
• Toxaemia and septicaemia -> rapid death
• A variation of wet gangrene.
• Produced by Clostridia organisms such as Clostridium chauvei and Clostridium septicum.
  • Organisms also form gas.
• E.g. in Blackleg, and Clostridia contamination of wounds.