Ritchie AJ and Harvey CF, 1990, UK1 | 64 patients (116 wounds) with gunshot and blast injuries | Controlled clinical trial | Infection rate | No significant difference | Not randomised |
| | | Hospital stay | 8.5 days v 3.6 days. | |
| GA for exploration and pull through (61) v minimum debridement under LA and saline wash (55). Both groups had antibiotics for 3 days. | | | | |
Ordog GJ et al, 1993, USA2 | 3390 of 3684 patients with minor gunshot wounds. | Cohort | Overall infection rate | 1.8% | |
| | | Infection rate by antibiotic prescription | 40% of patients were given antibiotics. 56% of infections were in patients with antibiotics, 44% in patients without. | |
| | | Complicating factors | Multiple injuries | |
| | | | Delay to presentation | |
| | | | Gross wound contamination | |
| | | | Significant tissue devitalisation | |
| | | | Large wounds | |