gas gangrene
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A severe, often fatal bacterial infection: Gas gangrene is a rapidly progressing and life-threatening condition characterized by the death of muscle and soft tissue. It is typically caused by bacteria from the Clostridium genus, which produce toxins and gas within the infected tissue.
Usage
Gas gangrene is a medical term used specifically in clinical and pathological contexts to describe this acute condition. * The soldier's wound was at high risk for developing gas gangrene. * Gas gangrene requires immediate surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in discussions of historical warfare medicine, microbiology, and biosecurity due to its rapid progression and potential use as a biological agent.
- It can be described clinically by its signs: crepitus (a crackling sensation under the skin due to gas), severe pain, foul-smelling discharge, and systemic toxicity.
Variants and Related Words
- Clostridial myonecrosis: A more precise clinical synonym for gas gangrene, directly referencing the muscle death () caused by bacteria.
- Gangrene (n.): A broader term for the death of body tissue due to a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection. Gas gangrene is a specific, severe type of gangrene.
Synonyms
- Clostridial myonecrosis
Related Phrases
- Necrotizing fasciitis: While sometimes confused, this is a related but distinct severe soft-tissue infection that may involve different bacteria and does not necessarily involve significant gas production.
Noun
- (pathology) a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by clostridium bacteria that produce toxins that cause tissue death; can be used as a bioweapon