Gas Gangrene
Alternate Names : Clostridial Infection of Tissues, Gangrene - Gas, Myonecrosis, Tissue Infection - Clostridial
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Gas Gangrene Diagnosis & Tests
Shock may be present, as evidenced by general pallor, cold extremities, low blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. Air in the tissues (crepitus) may be felt. Infection involving the entire body (systemic toxicity or sepsis) may develop. Yellow skin color associated with the excessive breakdown of blood cells (jaundice) is possible.
- a Gram stain of fluid from the infected area may shows Gram-positive rods and spore formation or other bacterial types
- a culture may grow the bacteria causing the infection
- blood cultures may grow the infecting bacteria
- an anaerobic tissue and/or fluid culture may reveal Clostridium species.
- an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI of the area may show gas in the tissues.
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