Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of Clostridium perfringens infections

Patients with Clostridium perfringens infections treated in Christchurch over a 14 year period to 1984 were reviewed retrospectively. Of the 46 documented cases, 21 died. Twenty-nine patients were treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. Of these, nine died, whilst 12 of 17 other patients who did not receive HBO died, including five in whom the diagnosis was only made at postmortem. The clinical features and predisposing factors for clostridial infections are discussed. The importance of early vigorous treatment with a combination of surgical debridement, antibiotics and HBO to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this lethal infection is emphasised.