Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium perfringens is a bacteria which are Gram-positive, endospore-forming anaerobes, that appear to be rod-shaped. They lack flagella, but they can still migrate across surfaces using a type of gliding motility that involves the formation of filaments of bacteria lined up in an end-to-end conformation. Clostridium perfringens bacteria is most commonly found in soil, and it the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. (1,2) C. perfringens most commonly causes food poisoning, and various types of gangrene, infections from this bacteria can cause necrosis, bacteremia, and emphysematous cholecystitis. Back before the 1890’s Clostridium perfringens used to be known as Clostridium welchii. F.W. Andrews and E. Klein discovered that Clostridium perfringens was associated with food poisoning, and in just a couple years specifically 1892, this microorganism would be found in different types of gangrene, appendicitis, puerperal fever, and enteritis. (3) .. Gas gangrene was very widespread in World War 1, complicating 6% of open fractures and 1% of all open
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It occurs when infection develops inside the muscles or organs, more than likely from a trauma. Clostridium perfringens releases dangerous toxins into the body along with gas which can be trapped inside the tissue of muscles or organs. As the infection prolongs, the skin may become a pale-grayish color, and if you press the skin or put pressure on a tissue it may make a crackling noise because of the gas inside the tissue.(6) If you are diagnosed with gas gangrene you would need immediate medical treatment or death could occur in 48 hours. In Gas gangrene, the bacteria Clostridia release alpha, beta and other toxins, which induce blood clotting in the infection and leads to myonecrosis.The gas in Gas gangrene is composed of five different gases combined together such as nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide..