Clostridium Welchii Infection

Abstract

GAS GANGRENE is a problem that still confronts the surgical service of all hospitals. Although it is known as a common complication of battle injuries, the disease is also a complication of civilian trauma, and more distressing it is a sequela of elective surgery.^1-5 There is evidence in recent literature that oxygen inspired at increased pressure can markedly reduce the mortality incident to this infection.^6-8 All therapy, to be successful, must be applied at a relatively early stage in the clinical evolution of gas gangrene. In order to determine the criteria for early suspicion and thereby diagnosis of gas bacillus infection we have reviewed the experience at the Albany Medical Center Hospital over the past 20 years. Clinical Material There were 25 cases of proved gas bacillus infection available for review. These cases have been divided into two main categories, depending on whether or not an operation preceded