title: Emergency department management of puncture wounds and needlestick exposure.
abstract: Puncture wounds are common and challenging problems facing the physician. In general, puncture wounds can be classified into two distinct types. In one type, a child usually sustains a puncture wound of the foot. The other type of puncture wounds occur among hospital employees. These seemingly innocuous injuries may have serious sequelae that can be averted by prompt appropriate care of the wound. The fundamental trends of treatment of puncture wounds include cleansing the wound, débridement of any necrotic or devitalized tissue, and appropriate immunoprophylaxis.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Edlich
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Rodeheaver
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*