Diagnosis
Acute necrotizing bloody diarrhea then sepsis and death from bowel necrosis. AKA Pigbel.
Epidemiologic Risks
After eating large, whole cooked pigs. Mmmmmm. Pork. Although I believe the cat is the other white meat.
There is also a from in the newborn, but this guide concerns itself mostly with diseases seen by internists.
Microbiology
Due to eating the toxins of Clostridium perfringens type C. The toxin kills the small bowel.
Empiric Therapy
Supportive and antiserum; as it is a preformed toxin, antibiotics will not treat the Clostridium, but broad-spectrum therapy for polymicrobial peritonitis may help support the patient.
Pearls
It is also a problem in chicken farms, especially since they stopped putting antibiotics in feed (PubMed).
Rants
Last Update: 11/11/18.