Gas gangrene

Epidemiology

Pathogen: most commonly caused by C. septicum
Etiology: typically a complication of an underlying disease, e.g., malignancy (e.g., colon carcinoma), diabetes, or immunosuppression
- In contrast to gas gangrene caused by C. perfringens, which is most commonly due to trauma.
Pathophysiology: Bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract spread hematogenously (due to, e.g., a gastrointestinal lesion or adenocarcinoma of the colon) and reach the muscle tissue.