Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the pathogenesis of gas gangrene. Although
several theories have been proposed to explain the pathologies, it is the general consensus
that the local and systemic manifestations of gas gangrene are, in fact, related to the
elaboration of potent extracellular protein toxins. The classic features of gas gangrene
caused by Clostridium perfringens type A can be attributed to the action of potent
extracellular bacterial toxins on host cell function. Both α-and θ-toxins contribute to the …