This 63-year old alcoholic was taken to the emergency room of a local hospital w

Question

This 63-year old alcoholic was taken to the emergency room of a local hospital with obvious gangrene of both feet. He was stuporous. During that evening, he had a seizure and was treated with phenutoin and barbiturates. That night he was transferred to a university hospital. At that time, he was noted to have opisthotonic posturing and to have developed increasing rigor, respiratory distress, and unresponsiveness. On examination, he had a temperature of 41.7C rectally, a blood pressure of 70/30 mm Hg, a heart rate of 110- beats per minute, and a respiratory rate of 40/min. Examination was notable for marked trismus. The neck was stiff and hyperextended. Necrotic, blackened areas were present over both feet, and several draining ulcers were noted on the heels and toes. Neurologically the patient responded to deep pain with a grimace. On the basis of these findings, specific therapy, in addition to supportive care, was initiated, and the patient ultimately recovered. In Addition to identifying this infectious disease and the infectious agent, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

Explanation / Answer

The infectious disease is Clostridial Gas Gangrene caused by Clostridia that are gram positive bacteria ,spore forming, bacilli found in nature.Clostridium perfringens mainly causes gas gangarene.The kappa toxin released by Clostridium perfringens destroys the connective tissue and leads to tissue necrosis.The alpha toxin produced causes cardiac inotropy leading to low blood pressure.

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