[Anaerobic clostridial infection of surgical wounds]

Two cases of anaerobic clostridial infection in operative wounds of the anterior abdominal wall in women of 65 and 86 are presented. The infection developed by the second or third day following surgical intervention for small intestine ileus. Death occurred with septic shock manifestations 10-13 hours after the onset of the first clinical symptoms of infectious complications which were contributed to by late hospitalization of the patients, inadequate antibacterial treatment as well as age-dependent decrease of immunologic responsiveness. An increasing incidence of anaerobic operative wounds infection is noted.