Gas gangrene after intramuscular injection of adrenaline.

A 13-year-old girl incurred gas gangrene after intramuscular injection of adrenaline to the buttock. Clinical evidence of very severe pain at the site of injection with septicemia and collapse within 24 to 48 hours should arouse the suspicion of clostridial myositis rather than pyogenic infection. Early diagnosis and treatment by adequate excision of necrotic muscle (with a wide margin of normal-appearing muscle) can prevent loss of life or limb in these patients.