Pathophysiology

This is a severe, life threatening infection which rapidly progresses, spreading across tissue planes and mainly involves the skin and underlying tissues. Risk factors for gangrene include male sex, diabetes mellitus, immunocompromised state, large habitus and alcoholism amongst others. There is high morbidity and significant mortality, with varying reports, between 7.5%(3) and as high as 40% with the condition. There can be associated trauma or breaching of the skin mucosa such as a bite or scratch or injecting of drugs. Infection is usually mixed with aerobes and anaerobes isolated, with strep, staph and enterobacteriaceae often isolated.