Your doctor can diagnose gas gangrene by performing a physical examination and ordering various tests. Diagnostic testing may include:
skin culture to test for the presence of Clostridium perfringens and other bacteria
blood tests to check for an abnormally high white blood cell count, which can indicate an infection
imaging tests, such as an routine X-ray, to visualize tissues and check for the presence of gas or special studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or arteriogram
surgery to evaluate the spread of gas gangrene within the body
How Is Gas Gangrene Treated? Once a diagnosis is made, high doses of antibiotics will be administered intravenously, or through a vein. For more serious cases, it may be necessary to begin treatment before diagnostic tests are even performed. Dead or infected tissue will need to be surgically removed right away. Your doctor may also try to repair damaged blood vessels to boost blood flow to the affected area. Damaged tissues can also be treated with a type of reconstructive surgery called a skin graft. During a skin graft, your doctor will remove healthy skin from an unaffected part of your body and attach it over the damaged area. This can help restore any skin damage caused by gas gangrene. In severe cases of gas gangrene, amputation of a limb may be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of your body. Once your wound has healed, you may be fitted with a prosthetic limb. This is an artificial limb that may be attached to the amputation site to replace the missing body part. Some doctors and hospitals use hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat gas gangrene. This type of therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber for about 90 minutes. You may receive two to three treatments per day. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy steadily increases the amount of oxygen in your blood, helping infected wounds to heal faster. What Is the Outlook for Someone with Gas Gangrene? Gas gangrene is a very serious condition that often begins unexpectedly and progresses rapidly. The infection can quickly become life threatening when left untreated. However, your individual outlook will depend on your overall health, the severity of the infection, and the location of the infection. Potential complications include:
permanent tissue damage
jaundice
liver damage
kidney failure
shock
widespread infection
coma
death
The sooner gas gangrene is treated, the better the outcome. It’s critical to seek medical treatment as soon as you notice symptoms. How Can Gas Gangrene Be Prevented? The best way to prevent gas gangrene is to practice proper hygiene. If you have an injury, make sure to clean the skin thoroughly and to cover the wound with a bandage. Contact your doctor at the first signs of infection. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, pain, and discharge. Your doctor will remove any foreign objects and dead tissue from the wound. It’s also important to take any prescribed antibiotics according to your doctor’s instructions. This will help lower your risk of developing an infection. Making certain lifestyle changes can also help reduce your risk for gas gangrene. These include:
avoiding tobacco products
properly caring for any existing health conditions, such as diabetes or arterial disease
maintaining a healthy weight by exercising regularly and eating a healthful diet that largely consists of lean protein, vegetables, and whole grains
