Gas composition in Clostridium septicum gas gangrene.
Clostridial gas gangrene (myonecrosis) is a rare but catastrophic condition that usually occurs in patients with underlying diseases. This paper reports a fatal case of spontaneous clostridial gas gangrene in a 60-year-old female diabetic patient. The composition of gas samples from the patient's damaged muscle was analyzed. The results showed 5.9% hydrogen, 3.4% carbon dioxide, 74.5% nitrogen and 16.1% oxygen. This gas composition supports the belief that such gas production occurs via glucose fermentation. This is the first time such an analysis has been performed in a clinical case of spontaneous clostridial gas gangrene.
Department of Emergency Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
C H
CH
Chi
K W
KW
Chen
J J
JJ
Huang
Y C
YC
Chuang
M H
MH
Wu
D003013:Clostridium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000378:metabolism*; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D005740:Gases; D005947:Glucose