Infections in Combat Casualties During Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom

• DOI: 10.1097/ta.0b013e31819d894c
• Publication Date: 2009-05-21T19:30:11Z
• Authors: Clinton K. Murray; Kenneth Wilkins; Nancy C. Molter; Heather C. Yun; Michael A. Dubick; Mary Ann Spott; Donald Jenkins; Brian Eastridge; John B. Holcomb; Lorne H. Blackbourne; Duane R. Hospenthal
• Keywords: Male; Incidence; 0211 other engineering and technologies; Wounds, Penetrating; 02 engineering and technology; 3. Good health; Cohort Studies; Injury Severity Score; Military Personnel; Mycoses; Wound Infection; Humans; Female; Registries; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Retrospective Studies

Infections are a common acute and chronic complication of combat-related injuries; however, no systematic attempt to assess infections associated with US injuries occurring in Iraq Afghanistan has been conducted. The Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR) established collect injury specific medical data from casualties Afghanistan.We reviewed the JTTR for identification infectious complications (IC) using International Classification Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) coding during two phases wars, before after end major ground operations (19 March-May 31, 2003 June 1, 2003-December 2006). ICD-9 codes were combined into categories; anatomic or clinical syndrome pathogen. An IC was defined as presence that included both pathogen.There 425 patients evaluated phase I 684 II approximately one third having an IC. most skin wound followed by lung, pathogen code gram-negative bacteria. site had varying rates IC: spine back (53%), head neck (44%), torso (43%), extremity (35%). Injury Severity Score certain mechanisms (explosive device, bomb, landmine) on multivariate analysis (p < 0.01).Infections injuries. Although can provide general information regarding infections, improved capture more is necessary improve overall infection care.