A macabre shock from the war in Ukraine, as a disease previously associated with the trenches of the two World Wars and since considered rare has returned to the forefront: Gas gangrene. According to a Telegraph report, citing Ukrainian doctors, the constant Russian drone attacks dramatically impede the timely evacuation of the wounded, creating conditions that favor severe wound infections.
One of the most dangerous is gas gangrene, a rapidly progressing muscle infection, primarily caused by the Clostridium bacterium. Its characteristic sign is the gas bubbles that form under the skin, while the destruction of muscle tissue can progress at a particularly rapid pace. Although it had been almost eliminated in Europe in the past, it is now being recorded again on the fronts in Ukraine.
Extremely life-threatening
"We haven't seen such delays in the evacuation of the wounded in the last 50 years—perhaps since World War II or even earlier. And now we are dealing with pathologies we had not encountered before," Alex, a foreign volunteer physician operating in the Zaporizhzhia region, told the Telegraph. Under normal circumstances, the treatment of gas gangrene requires immediate surgical debridement to remove infected tissue and intravenous administration of high doses of antibiotics. However, as reported, the conditions on the Ukrainian front and the limited access to laboratory support often make timely treatment impossible.
"This is an extremely life-threatening infection, with a mortality rate that can reach 100% if left untreated," notes Lindsay Edwards, Lecturer in Microbiology at King's College London. The Telegraph had previously reported that a large number of Ukrainian soldiers are led to amputations, as the provision of first aid based on NATO protocols is not adequately adapted to the harsh and prolonged conditions of the war in Ukraine.
The disease is linked to the trenches of World War I
Gas gangrene is historically linked to World War I. The disease spread due to the conditions on the battlefield, severe injuries, and limited medical care. Soldiers fought in muddy and wet trenches, in fields often fertilized with manure containing Clostridium bacteria. Bullets and shrapnel caused deep, complex wounds with extensive areas of necrotic tissue, creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Meanwhile, evacuation and medical care were often delayed.
During World War II, mortality rates from battlefield infections dropped dramatically thanks to the advent of antibiotics. For a long time, gas gangrene was believed to have been virtually eliminated in Europe.
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