[Infections in war injuries]

Between April and September 1991, 415 injured patients were treated at the University Hospital Rebro, Zagreb, 362 at the Department of Surgery and 53 at the Department of Neurosurgery. Infections developed in 15.7% of the injured patients (wound infections in 14.6% and sepsis or meningitis in 1.1% of the injured patients). 88.2% of wound infections as well as all sepsis and meningitis were hospital-acquired infections, while 7.95 of wound infections occurred within 48 h of injuring. The major pathogens, in 90% of cases, were the aerobic bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter species) while 9% of infections were caused by mixed aerobic-anaerobic flora. One injured patient developed clinical features of gas gangrene. Neither streptococcal wound infections nor tetanus were present in this group of the injured patients.