Gangrene

Gangrene is the "death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply." While it is often assumed to be a result of direct infection, especially with Clostridium perfringens, it certainly is not limited to a toxin-producing bacterium such as Cl. perfringens. It can be secondary to completely or partially blocked blood vessels, or blood vessels that are so damaged that they cannot function properly, or even to blood vessel spasm caused by chemicals in the body (e.g., thromboxane).

A distinction is sometimes made between "wet gangrene" is caused by bacteria that destroy body tissue, and dry gangrene caused by noninfectious interference with blood supply. Blurring into "gangrene" are conditions such as necrotizing fascitis, popularly called "flesh-eating bacteria", where the bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes in necrotizing cellulitis and Fournier's gangrene, are directly destroying tissue and blood vessels.

Treatment

The core of conventional medical treatment is to remove, surgically or by other means, clearly dead tissue whose breakdown products will aggravate the systemic condition. Beyond that, a wide variety of methods are used to improve blood supply, or at least the functions impaired by inadequate blood supply.

Improving circulatory function

If the blood supply is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel, thrombolytic drugs may be used to dissolve it, perhaps in combination with endovascular interventions ranging from angioplasty to stenting to atherectomy to endovascular removal of the obstruction. It may be necessary to graft a bypassing blood vessel, using natural or synthetic materials, around the area of blockage.

Supporting cirulation

During treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be able to increase the oxygenation of the dying tissue. If a compartment syndrome, as in Fournier's, is blocking blood flow, surgical opening of the body compartment can release the pressure occluding the blood flow, and return normal circulation.

Treating the cause of destruction

When the tissue death is due to an infectious process, appropriate drugs are used. In some cases, the actual cellular damage is being caused by an exotoxin, and neutralization of that toxin or related chemical messengers (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-alpha is appropriate. In other cases, when an infection is the cause, antibiotics are appropriate, but so may surgical removal of an abscess or other source of infetion.

Some homeopathic treatments have been used. Gangrene bbc.co.uk Health</ref> homeopathic remedies are prescribed in the belief that they will strengthen a person's own defenses and to initiate healing. Some homeopathic remedies for gangrene include Arsenicum Album, Secale (from rye/ergot), and Carbo vegetabilis (from charcoal), amongst many others.

=Cl. perfringens

Clostridium perfringens bacteria produce lethal toxins in a wound, known as gas gangrene. They are likely to be in the wound, but can be from a distant site.