Infectious Disease Compendium

Necrotizing Enteritis

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.