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Wounds caused by corn-harvesting machines: an unusual source of infection due to gram-negative bacilli
Abstract:
The infectious complications in 23 patients with mutilating wounds due to trauma during corn harvesting were compared with those in 41 patients with factory-related hand injuries of similar severity. Initial cultures revealed bacterial growth in 89% of the agricultural wounds and in 63% of the factory wounds. A mean of 3.8 initial bacterial species were isolated per corn-harvesting wound vs. 0.9 species per factory wound. Gram-negative rods were recovered from 81% of the agricultural wounds; the commonest of these organisms were Enterobacter species and Xanthomonas maltophilia. Only 7% of factory-wound cultures grew gram-negative rods. Osteomyelitis, all with gram-negative rods, developed in five (22%) of the patients with farm injuries but did not occur in patients with factory wounds. More gram-negative rods were recovered from environmental cultures of corn-harvesting machines and corn plants than from those of factory machinery.
Insights
Agricultural wounds from corn harvesting show higher bacterial contamination, including dangerous gram-negative rods, compared to factory injuries. This leads to a greater risk of serious infections like osteomyelitis in farm-related trauma.
Area of Science:
- Infectious disease epidemiology
- Trauma and wound infections
- Microbiology of agricultural injuries
Background:
- Mutilating hand injuries present significant infectious complication risks.
- Comparing infectious profiles of agricultural versus industrial trauma is crucial for targeted prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare infectious complications in patients with corn harvesting trauma versus factory-related hand injuries.
- To identify differences in bacterial contamination and infection types between agricultural and industrial wounds.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective comparison of 23 patients with corn harvesting injuries and 41 with factory hand injuries.
- Analysis of initial wound cultures for bacterial species, focusing on gram-negative rods.
- Comparison of environmental cultures from agricultural and factory settings.
Main Results:
- Agricultural wounds had higher bacterial growth rates (89% vs. 63%) and more species per wound (3.8 vs. 0.9).
- Gram-negative rods were significantly more prevalent in agricultural wounds (81% vs. 7%), with Enterobacter and Xanthomonas maltophilia being common.
- Osteomyelitis developed in 22% of farm injury patients, exclusively associated with gram-negative rods; none occurred in factory injury patients.
Conclusions:
- Corn harvesting injuries are associated with a higher burden of bacterial contamination, particularly gram-negative rods.
- The increased prevalence of specific bacteria in agricultural environments contributes to severe infectious complications like osteomyelitis.
- Enhanced preventative measures are warranted for agricultural-related hand trauma to mitigate infectious risks.