The risk of wound infection after simple hand laceration

BACKGROUND: This prospective observational study aimed to determine the infection rate of simple hand laceration(SHL), and to compare infection rates between patients who were prescribed antibiotics and those who were not.METHODS: The study was performed at two urban hospitals enrolling 125 emergency department(ED) patients with SHL. Exclusion criteria included patients with lacerations for more than 12 hours, immunocompromized patients, patients given antibiotics, and patients with gross contamination, bites or crush injuries. Wound infection was defined as clinical infection at a follow-up visit(10–14 days) or wound was treated with antibiotics. Patient satisfaction was also measured using a visual analogue scale 1–10, asking the patients about wound appearance. Demographic data and wound characteristics were compared between the infected and non-infected wounds. The infection rates were also compared between patients who received prophylactic antibiotics and those who did not. The results were presented with medians and quartiles or percentages with 95% confidence intervals(CI).RESULTS: In the 125 patients with SHL [median age: 28(18, 43); range: 1–102 years old; 36% female], 44(35%, 95% CI: 27%–44%) were given antibiotics in the ED. Wound infection was reported in 6 patients(4.8%, 95% CI: 2%–10%). Age, gender, history of diabetes and wound closure were not associated with wound infection(P>0.05). The infection rate was not significantly different between patients with or without antibiotic prophylaxis [7%(3/44), 95% CI: 2%–10% vs. 4%(3/81), 95% CI: 1%–11%, P=0.66]. Patient's satisfaction with appearance ofinfected and non-infected wounds were significantly different [7.5(6, 8) vs. 9(8, 10), P=0.01].CONCLUSION: Approximately 5% of simple hand lacerations become infected. Age, gender, diabetes, prophylactic antibiotics and closure technique do not affect the risk ofinfection.

Screening for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhea in adolescent males in an urban pediatric emergency department

AIM To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) and Neisseria gonorrhea(GC) in young men seeking care in the emergency department(ED) for non-sexually transmitted infection(STI) related symptoms.METHODS This was a prospective, cross-sectional study in an urban ED. The main outcome was the rate of positive CT and GC on urine nucleic acid amplification testing in males aged 16-21 presenting with non-STI related complaints. RESULTS Two hundred and eighty-four patients were enrolled, 271 were included in the final data analysis [age range 16-21, median: 18(quartiles 16-18, 19-21)]. Overall, 17(6.3%, 95%CI: 4%-10%) tested positive for CT and 0%(95%CI: 0%-2%) were found to have GC. The proportion of sexually active subjects was 71%(95%CI: 65%-76%) and 2%(95%CI: 0.6%-4%) reported sex with men. Previous STI testing was reported in 46%(95%CI: 43%-54%) and 13%(95%CI: 8%-20%) of those patients previously tested had a history of STI. Of the patients who tested positive for CT in the ED, 88%(95%CI: 64%-98%) were successfully followed up. CONCLUSION The prevalence of CT infection found by screening was 6.3%. Screening and follow-up from the ED was successful. The findings justify routine STI screening in male adolescents presenting to the ED with non-STI related complaints.

Can patients with non-convulsive seizure be identifi ed in the emergency department?

BACKGROUND: Non-convulsive seizure(NCS) is an underdiagnosed, potentially treatable emergency with significant mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study is to examine the characteristics of patients with NCS presenting with altered mental status(AMS) and diagnosed with electroencephalography(EEG), to identify the factors that could increase the pre-test probability of NCS.METHODS: Retrospective study using the data collected prospectively. Inclusion criteria: patients older than 13 years with AMS. Exclusion criteria:(1) immediately correctable AMS(e.g., hypoglycemia, opiod overdose);(2) inability to undergo EEG;(3) hemodynamic instability. Outcomes compared between NCS and non-NCS cases: vital signs, lactate level, gender, witnessed seizure, use of anticonvulsive in the field or in the ED, history of seizure or stroke, head injury, abnormal neurological finding and new abnormal findings on head CT. Data presented as medians and quartiles for categorical and percentages with 95%CI for continuous variables. Univariate analyses were performed with Man-Whitney U and Fisher's Exact tests. A multivariate analysis model was used to test the predictive value of clinical variables in identifying NCS.RESULTS: From 332 patients(median age 66 years, quartiles 50–78), 16 were diagnosed with NCS(5%, 95%CI 3%–8%). Only age was signifi cantly different between the NCS vs. non-NCS groups in both univariate(P=0.032) and multivariate analyses(P=0.016).CONCLUSION: Other than age, no other clinically useful variable could identify patients at high risk of NCS. ED physicians should have a high suspicion for NCS and should order EEG for these patients more liberally.