Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Aug;40(4):100908.
doi: 10.1016/j.accpm.2021.100908. Epub 2021 Jun 24.

Terror in Paris: Incidence and risk factors for infections related to high-energy ammunition injuries

Affiliations

Terror in Paris: Incidence and risk factors for infections related to high-energy ammunition injuries

Ron Birnbaum et al. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Background: We aimed to assess the incidence and the risk factors for secondary wound infections associated to high-energy ammunition injuries (HEAI) in the cohort of civilian casualties from the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.

Methods: This retrospective multi-centric study included casualties presenting at least one HEAI who underwent surgery during the first 48 h following hospital admission. HEAI-associated infection was defined as a wound infection occurring within the initial 30 days following trauma. Risk factors were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Among the 200 included victims, the rate of infected wounds was 11.5%. The median time between admission and the surgical revision for secondary wound infection was 11 days [IQR 9-20]. No patient died from an infectious cause. Infections were polymicrobial in 44% of the cases. The major risk factors for secondary wound infection were ISS (p < 0.001), SAPS II (p < 0.001), MGAP (p < 0.001), haemorrhagic shock (p = 0.003), use of vasopressors (p < 0.001), blood transfusion (p < 0.001), abdominal penetrating trauma (p = 0.003), open fracture (p = 0.01), vascular injury (p = 0.001), duration of surgery (p = 0.009), presence of surgical material (p = 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the SAPS II score (OR 1.07 [1.014-1.182], p = 0.019) and the duration of surgery (OR 1.005 [1.000-1.012], p = 0.041) were the only risk factors identified.

Conclusion: We report an 11.5% rate of secondary wound infection following high-energy ammunition injuries. Risk factors were an immediately severe condition and a prolonged surgery.

Keywords: Combat-related injury; High–energy ammunition injury; Risk factor; Terrorist attack; Wound infection.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

  • Prehospital antibiotherapy in trauma: Not so fast.
    Cazes N, Galant J, Marmin J, Menot P, Boutillier Du Retail C. Cazes N, et al. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2022 Feb;41(1):101008. doi: 10.1016/j.accpm.2021.101008. Epub 2021 Dec 14. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2022. PMID: 34920153 No abstract available.

LinkOut - more resources