Which imaging modalities should be carried out, and what do they show?
Radiography, CT, or MRI typically show a characteristic feathering pattern of the soft tissue.
What do laboratory tests reveal?
Gram staining: large, gram-positive rods
Wound culture: double zone of hemolysis on blood agar
Blood cultures
PCR or ELISA for detection of toxin in wound material (not widely available)
What can surgical exploration reveal?
Affected muscle does not bleed or contract, and may be pale or discolored red-purple to black.
Histopathological findings of biopsy
Myonecrosis and destruction of surrounding degenerative tissue (muscle, skin fat, subcutaneous tissue)
Presence of pathogens; without inflammatory infiltrate
Gas gangrene
X-ray of the right foot (mediolateral view)
Multiple pockets of air are visible as radiolucent spots (white arrows) in the soft tissues of the dorsal and plantar aspects of the foot.
This appearance of air within soft tissues is pathognomonic of gas gangrene, which is most commonly caused by Clostridium perfringens.
X-ray of the right hip and thigh of a 39-year-old male patient
A feathering pattern of multiple foci of radiolucent gas (green overlay) is visible within the muscles of the right thigh.
This appearance is pathognomonic of gas gangrene.
Clostridium perfringens
Photomicrograph of a specimen (methylene blue stain, high magnification)
Spindle or rod-like shaped bacteria are visible.
This appearance is typical of clostridia (derived from the Greek word closter = "spindle"). Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis).
Zuletzt geändertvor einem Jahr
