Wound infection during the Yom Kippur war: observations concerning antibiotic prophylaxis and therapy.
Eighty-eight episodes of wound associated infection were identified among 624 consecutively admitted battlefield casualties. Ninety-one per cent of infections occurred during the administration of antibiotic therapy or prophylaxis and 65% were associated with the use of multiple antibacterial agents. Gram negative bacillary and mixed microbial infection predominated and were found to increase in relative incidence after the second day of hospitalization. Appropriate therapy, based on disc sensitivity testing, was administered in only 33% of infectious episodes. The practice of antibiotic wound prophylaxis may contribute to the incidence and nature of infection in battlefield wounds. Problems unique to the handling of battlefield wounded are discussed in comparing the present data with those of other war associated and civilian studies.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014857:Warfare; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents