Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitions
Trauma-related infections remain a concerning and potentially avoidable complication of conflict-related injuries. During the Israeli conflict in South Lebanon, more than four million sub-munitions were dropped over South Lebanese soil. In this study, we will explore the different types of infection...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2013-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187603411300097X |
| _version_ | 1818304271211298816 |
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| author | Youssef Fares Mohamad El-Zaatari Jawad Fares Nora Bedrosian Nadine Yared |
| author_facet | Youssef Fares Mohamad El-Zaatari Jawad Fares Nora Bedrosian Nadine Yared |
| author_sort | Youssef Fares |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Trauma-related infections remain a concerning and potentially avoidable complication of conflict-related injuries. During the Israeli conflict in South Lebanon, more than four million sub-munitions were dropped over South Lebanese soil. In this study, we will explore the different types of infection caused by sub-munitions and penetrating agents. This prospective study took place from 2006 to 2012 at the Lebanese University within the Faculty of Medical Sciences’ departments. This study sample consisted of 350 injured casualties. Patients suffered from blast injuries with fragmentations targeting the head, face, torso, abdomen, pelvis and extremities. Of the 350 causalities studied, 326 (93.1%) were males, and 24 (6.9%) were females. Ages varied between 10 and 70 years, with the average age being 27 years. Of the 350 patients studied, 68 (19.4%) developed infections. Infections varied between pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Candida and fungus and sometimes led to necrosis. Vaccinations, antibiotic therapies and proper wound irrigation must be performed at appropriate emergency units. Excision and complete debridement of necrotic and contaminated tissue should also be performed. The Convention on Cluster Munitions of 2008 should be adhered to, as these weapons indiscriminately and disproportionately harm civilians, thereby violating the well-established international principles governing conflict. Keywords: Cluster bombs, Cluster munitions, Trauma, Infection, Lebanon |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:08:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16de3692dcb1469dbb9b31fa5a2e1bf6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1876-0341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:08:02Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-16de3692dcb1469dbb9b31fa5a2e1bf62022-12-21T23:57:10ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412013-12-0166482486Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitionsYoussef Fares0Mohamad El-Zaatari1Jawad Fares2Nora Bedrosian3Nadine Yared4Neurosurgery Division, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center, Saida, LebanonNeurosurgery Division, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; Corresponding author. Tel.: +961 70 982498.Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, LebanonTrauma-related infections remain a concerning and potentially avoidable complication of conflict-related injuries. During the Israeli conflict in South Lebanon, more than four million sub-munitions were dropped over South Lebanese soil. In this study, we will explore the different types of infection caused by sub-munitions and penetrating agents. This prospective study took place from 2006 to 2012 at the Lebanese University within the Faculty of Medical Sciences’ departments. This study sample consisted of 350 injured casualties. Patients suffered from blast injuries with fragmentations targeting the head, face, torso, abdomen, pelvis and extremities. Of the 350 causalities studied, 326 (93.1%) were males, and 24 (6.9%) were females. Ages varied between 10 and 70 years, with the average age being 27 years. Of the 350 patients studied, 68 (19.4%) developed infections. Infections varied between pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Candida and fungus and sometimes led to necrosis. Vaccinations, antibiotic therapies and proper wound irrigation must be performed at appropriate emergency units. Excision and complete debridement of necrotic and contaminated tissue should also be performed. The Convention on Cluster Munitions of 2008 should be adhered to, as these weapons indiscriminately and disproportionately harm civilians, thereby violating the well-established international principles governing conflict. Keywords: Cluster bombs, Cluster munitions, Trauma, Infection, Lebanonhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187603411300097X |
| spellingShingle | Youssef Fares Mohamad El-Zaatari Jawad Fares Nora Bedrosian Nadine Yared Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitions Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| title | Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitions |
| title_full | Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitions |
| title_fullStr | Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitions |
| title_short | Trauma-related infections due to cluster munitions |
| title_sort | trauma related infections due to cluster munitions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187603411300097X |
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