How to Prevent Gas Gangrene

Gas gangrene, an infection usually caused by the Clostridium perfingens bacteria or by Group A Streptococcus, usually develops at the site of a wound, but a third of the cases develop spontaneously. These spontaneous cases often occur in patients with an underlying blood disease, colon cancer or diabetes. The following steps will show how to prevent a case of gas gangrene.

Instructions

• 1

  Take particular care of your hands and feet if you have severe arteriosclerosis or diabetes because of the risk of infection with even a minor injury. Undertake any measures needed to re-establish circulation to the feet.

• 2

  Use appropriate wound care at the time of the injury to deter infection. This may include debridement of necrotic tissue or copious irrigation. Amputation also may be necessary in severe cases.

• 3

  Provide preventative treatment with antibiotics to prevent subsequent infection in some cases, especially elective intestinal surgery. The use of antibiotics before surgery has been shown to reduce the infection rate from more than 20 percent to less than 9.

• 4

  Clean any wounds thoroughly. This is especially important with large contaminated wounds with damage to nearby skin. Consult your health care provider if you see signs of infection such as drainage, pain, redness or swelling.

• 5

  Surgically explore and drain penetrating abdominal wounds and close tears in the intestinal walls. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also has been shown to limit the spread of infection in some cases.