Researchers at Baltimore-based University of Maryland School of Medicine found approximately 5% of adults hospitalized with firearm injuries develop a bacterial infection, with most infections occurring during hospitalization.
The study, published Aug. 3 in JAMA Network Open, used the Premier Healthcare Database to analyze 24,024 adults hospitalized with firearm injuries at 323 hospitals between January 2019 and May 2021. Bacterial infection was defined by positive culture results from any source and antibiotics initiated within 2 days of those results that were continued for at least four days or until discharge.
Here are four findings.
1. The study found 1,236 patients, or roughly 5%, developed a bacterial infection. Bacterial infection was not independently linked to a higher risk of death among patients who survived at least one night in the hospital, according to an Aug. 6 hospital news release.
2. Only 1.3% of infections occurred during the 90-day follow-up period.
3. Patients who underwent surgeries involving the head, neck, spine, liver or lower abdomen faced the highest risk of bacterial infections.
4. The most commonly identified pathogens were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci.
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