Epidemiology of Trauma-Related Infections among a Combat Casualty Cohort after Initial Hospitalization: The Trauma Infectious Disease Outcomes Study.

BACKGROUND

The Trauma Infectious Disease Outcomes Study (TIDOS) cohort follows military personnel with deployment-related injuries in order to evaluate short- and long-term infectious complications. High rates of infectious complications have been observed in more than 30% of injured patients during initial hospitalization. We present data on infectious complications related to combat trauma after the initial period of hospitalization.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Data related to patient care for military personnel injured during combat operations between June 2009 and May 2012 were collected. Follow-up data were captured from interviews with enrolled participants and review of electronic medical records.

RESULTS

Among 1,006 patients enrolled in the TIDOS cohort with follow-up data, 357 (35%) were diagnosed with one or more infection during their initial hospitalization, of whom 160 (45%) developed a trauma-related infection during follow-up (4.2 infections per 10,000 person-days). Patients with three or more infections during the initial hospitalization had a significantly higher rate of infections during the follow-up period compared with those with only one inpatient infection (incidence rate: 6.6 versus 3.1 per 10,000 days; p < 0.0001). There were 657 enrollees who did not have an infection during initial hospitalization, of whom 158 (24%) developed one during follow-up (incidence rate: 1.6 per 10,000 days). Overall, 318 (32%) enrolled patients developed an infection after hospital discharge (562 unique infections) with skin and soft-tissue infections being predominant (66%) followed by osteomyelitis (16%). Sustaining an amputation or open fracture, having an inpatient infection, and use of anti-pseudomonal penicillin (≥7 d) were independently associated with risk of an extremity wound infection during follow-up, whereas shorter hospitalization (15-30 d) was associated with a reduced risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Combat-injured patients have a high burden of infectious complications that continue long after the initial period of hospitalization with soft-tissue and osteomyelitis being predominant. Further research on the long-term impact and outcomes of combat-associated infection is needed.