Habitat: soil, water, intestinal tract of animals and humans
Pathogenicity: If a wound causes blood supply to be interrupted (ischemia) the wound will become anaerobic. This will lead to death of tissue (necrosis) that is called gangrene. Clostidium grows readily under these conditions. Species most commonly found to be involved in this situation is C. perfringens. These organisms ferment carbohydrates and produce gas by-products that swell tissues. Hence the term "gas gangrene". They then produce toxins that move along muscle bundles and kill cells, eventually entering the blood stream causing systemic illness.
Treatment: Without treatment, this disease is uniformly fatal. Treatment involves prompt cleaning of serious wounds; penicillin; debridement; amputation; hyperbaric chamber treatments (oxygen rich atmosphere).
Clostridium perfringens
