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Review
. 2008 Jun;466(6):1356-62.
doi: 10.1007/s11999-008-0212-9. Epub 2008 Mar 18.

Multidrug-resistant organisms in military wounds from Iraq and Afghanistan

Jason H Calhoun  1 , Clinton K Murray, M M Manring
Affiliations
Review

Multidrug-resistant organisms in military wounds from Iraq and Afghanistan

Jason H Calhoun et al. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

Mortality from battlefield wounds has historically declined, thanks to better surgical management, faster transport of casualties, and improved antibiotics. Today, one of the major challenges facing U.S. military caregivers is the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms in orthopaedic extremity wounds. The most frequently identified resistant strains of bacteria are Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex. Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics may be an important factor in building resistant strains. Acinetobacter infections appear to hospital-acquired and not from an initial colonization of the injury. More research is required to give military physicians the tools they require to reduce the infection rate and defeat multidrug-resistant organisms.

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