Gas Gangrene
A variety of species of clostridium are associated with invasive infection in humans i.e. C. perfringens, novyi, septicum, histolyticum, tertium, bifermentans, sporogenes. They are not highly pathogenic when introduced into healthy tissues; but in the presence of tissue injury, in particular damaged muscle, they can cause a rapidly progressive devastating infection characterised by the accumulation of gas and the extensive destruction of muscle and connective tissue. Pathogenesis is due to the production of various toxins with necrotising, haemolytic or other destructive properties.