Risk factors for mortality (odds ratios range from 3.1 to 4.7):
(1) white blood cell count > 30,000 per µL on hospital admission
(2) serum creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL on hospital admission
(3) presence of heart disease on hospital admission
(4) Clostridial infection
Patients who died had high APACHE II and multiple-organ dysfunction scores during the first 48 hours after hospital admission.
Risk factors for limb loss (odds ratios range from 3.9 to 5.9):
(1) presence of heart disease on hospital admission
(2) presence of shock on hospital admission (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg)
(3) Clostridial infection
Risk factors for a clostridial limb infection in an extremity:
(1) intravenous drug use
(2) postoperative wound infection
