If extensive wound drainage is present
Not usually transmitted from person to person
Penicillin with clindamycin
Anaerobic spore forming gram positive bacilli, boxcar shaped.
Environmental (soil, water) organism as well as human/animal digestive tract.
Associated with penetrating wounds with environmental exposure.
Gas gangrene/Clostridial myonecrosis
Necrotizing skin and soft tissue infection
Septic abortion
Intra-abdominal abscess
Fatal bacteremia with massive exotoxin-mediated hemolysis
Foodborne self-limited gastrointestinal illness
Surgical debridement of devitalized tissue crucial.
IVIG and hyperbaric oxygen may be considered but lack of rigorous studies to support routine use.
Antibiotics are not indicated for C. perfringens food poisoning.