Paper I — 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) — Qxiii
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Paper I
2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min
Question
Gas gangrene is commonly caused by
a) Clostridium perfringens
b) Clostridium Tetany
c) Clostridium Difficile
d) Clostridium botulinum
Qxiii1 marksMCQs
Answer
- [x] a) Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium perfringens is the most common cause of gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis), producing alpha-toxin (a lecithinase) and other tissue-destructive toxins/enzymes that cause rapid muscle necrosis with gas production, typically following deep, contaminated (often traumatic) wounds. Clostridium tetani causes tetanus (not gas gangrene); Clostridioides difficile causes antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis; Clostridium botulinum causes botulism (flaccid paralysis via a neurotoxin) — none of these three are associated with gas gangrene.