Clostridium perfringens Bacteremia-Associated Hemolysis

Hematological investigations in a case of intravascular hemolysis due to Clostridium perfringens infection

“…In our case, in vivo hemolysis was the consequence of gas gangrene -a very serious condition with potential complications such as permanent tissue damage, infection, liver damage, kidney failure, shock, coma and even death, all within only a couple of hours after symptoms occur. Obtained values of myoglobin indicated severe damage of muscle tissue that coincides with C. perfringens-induced tissue necrosis whereas its consequence, severe hemolysis, interfered and affected analytical determination of common laboratory parameters (4,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Interestingly, hemolyzed samples appeared due to second sampling, four hours after obtaining of first set of clear samples.…”