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1887

Journal of Medical Microbiology logo Journal of Medical Microbiology

Volume 5, Issue 4

The Prevention Of Experimental Gas Gangrene In High-VelociTy Missile Wounds By Passive Immunisation No Access

Abstract

SUMMARY

Sheep that were wounded in the thigh muscle by a high-velocity bullet and simultaneously infected there with spores of type A were used to evaluate the prophylactic effectiveness of gas-gangrene antitoxin. Control sheep that had not received antitoxin almost all died of gas gangrene within 48 hr after wounding (survival rate 4.6-13 per cent. within 90 per cent. confidence limits). The survival rate increased when antitoxin was given prophylactically.

The effectiveness of antitoxin in preventing gas gangrene was found to depend to a large extent on the interval of time between the challenge and administration of antitoxin. If this was 9 hr or less, antitoxin was almost completely effective (survival rate 94-98.5 per cent.). The survival rate decreased as the interval lengthened; when it was 18-21 hr or more, the rate was similar to that observed with challenged controls.

It is concluded that gas-gangrene antitoxin is likely to be of value in the prevention of post-traumatic gas gangrene caused by , provided that it is given as soon as possible and preferably within 9 hr after wounding.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
© J. MED. MICROBIOL. 1972
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/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-5-4-459
1972-11-01
2025-01-13
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/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-5-4-459
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The Prevention Of Experimental Clostridium Novyi Gas Gangrene In High-VelociTy Missile Wounds By Passive Immunisation
J. Med. Microbiol. 5, 459 (1972); https://doi.org/10.1099/00222615-5-4-459
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-5-4-459
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-5-4-459
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