Final answer:
Gas gangrene is an infection caused by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium perfringens, which thrives in oxygen-depleted necrotic tissue. Diagnosis is through signs and confirmatory cultures, with treatments including surgical debridement, antibiotics, and possibly hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gangrene, specifically gas gangrene, is an infection primarily caused by Clostridium perfringens, a gram-positive bacterium that is an obligate anaerobe. The ideal environment for the growth of C. perfringens is necrotic tissue devoid of oxygen, which is why it is often associated with conditions such as ischemia where blood flow and thus oxygen supply to tissues is disrupted. Gas gangrene is characterized by rapidly spreading myonecrosis, severe pain, and the presence of gas bubbles in the tissue.
Diagnosis of gas gangrene involves identifying the clinical signs, confirming through Gram stain and anaerobic culture of wound exudates and tissue. Treatment includes surgical debridement and in advanced cases, amputation, followed by antibiotic treatments like penicillin G and clindamycin. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also be effective as Clostridium spp. cannot survive in oxygen-rich environments.
Deep puncture wounds and surgical sites can become contaminated if not properly sterilized, leading to iatrogenic or nosocomial diseases, such as gangrene and necrotizing fasciitis. Consequently, nosocomial diseases can arise in hospitals due to the presence of patients with weakened immune systems, transmission through improperly sterilized equipment, and the selection for drug-resistant bacteria.