Question

A 32-ylo male comes to your office with his leg wrapped up in gauze. Within seconds the entire waiting room stinks...really badly. You find the source of the smell is under the self-made wrap; a greenish-blackened foot with large blisters all over. Unfortunately, by this point of the infection you know you need to amputate the leg. You also need a GasPak system to grow the bacteria responsible and prove what caused the infection. (a) What was the bacterium that caused it? (b) What is the disease? (c) Why is the GasPak needed? (d) What molecule causes the disease manifestation?

Answer 1

A) The bacteria that caused the disease is Clostridium perfringens .

B) The disease is Gas gangrene . It is a bacterial infection that produces gas within tissues. Gas gangrene generally develops at a recent surgical or injury site and accompanied by the evolution of foul-smelling gas..

C) GasPak Anaerobic System is used to create an oxygen-free environment for the growth of anaerobic microorganisms. Inoculated plates or tubes are placed inside the chamber, and anaerobic conditions are created by adding water to a gas generator envelope that is placed in the jar just before sealing.

D) Blisters with foul-smelling discharge causes the disease manifestation.