The prevention of experimental Clostridium novyi gas gangrene in high-velocity missile wounds by passive immunisation.

Abstract

SUMMARY Sheep that were wounded in the thigh muscle by a high-velocity bullet and simultaneously infected there with spores of Clostridium novyi 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 CI. novyi, provided that it is given as soon as possible and preferably within 9 hr after wounding.