MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Gas gangrene

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Gas gangrene

Gas gangrene is a severe form of gangrene (tissue death) caused by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens. Patients with underlying vascular diseases are more prone to spontaneously develop gas gangrene, which is rapidly progressive and often fatal.

Update Date: 2/13/2006

Updated by: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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