title: Incidence of infection in pediatric patients with laceration.
abstract: Lacerations are common in emergency departments. A review of pediatric patients was carried out to determine the infection rate. During a three-month period, from August to October, 415 patients were prospectively evaluated to determine the occurrence of infections in sutured lacerations. Sixty-nine patients (16%) were lost to follow-up. Seven patients (2%) developed infections. The infection rate in the lower extremities was 8.5% (P less than 0.0001). Six lacerations (5.3%) greater than 3 cm in size became infected, compared to one (0.4%) that was smaller than 3 cm (P less than 0.0001). Falls accounted for 61% of the injuries. The infection rate in children is less than that in adults. However, large lacerations in the lower extremities are at greater risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Debaker
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*