title: Hand infections: an audit of 160 infections treated in an accident and emergency department.
abstract: 160 consecutive hand infections presented to an Accident and Emergency department over a four-month period. All but one were treated solely on an out-patient basis. The mean delay to presentation was three days, the mean duration of treatment was six days. Follow-up to complete resolution was achieved in 89% of cases. No patients were treated with parenteral antibiotics. The need for careful assessment, early aggressive surgery, and meticulous attention to the principles of wound care by experienced clinicians is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents