Surgical Emergencies
A 58-year-old farmer with poorly controlled diabetes presents 24 hours after a penetrating thigh injury from agricultural machinery. He has severe pain out of proportion to the appearance of the wound, tachycardia (120 bpm), and fever (39.2C). The thigh is swollen with bronze discoloration of the skin. Crepitus is palpable, and a thin, foul-smelling "dishwater" discharge is noted. Radiographs show gas within the muscle compartments. Regarding gas gangrene:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Clostridium perfringens (welchii) is the most common cause (80-95%), followed by C. novyi, C. septic...
The alpha-toxin (phospholipase C/lecithinase) is the principal virulence factor; it destroys cell me...
Gas gangrene requires a polymicrobial infection with both aerobic and anaerobic organisms; the prese...
Risk factors include contaminated wounds (agricultural, war), devitalized tissue, foreign bodies, va...
The incubation period is typically 12-24 hours but can be as short as 1-6 hours in severe cases; rap...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option