Prehospital Trauma Compendium: Prehospital Administration of Antibiotics in Trauma Patients - an NAEMSP Resource Document

OBJECTIVES

To conduct a literature review and provide a summary of the evidence surrounding prehospital administration of antibiotics for open fractures and other major open wounds.

METHODS

We performed a literature search and summarized the evidence following the methodology established for the NAEMSP Prehospital Trauma Compendium. We searched PubMed from inception to 23 December 2022 for articles relevant to Emergency Medical Services, trauma, and antibiotics. Due to resource limitations, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was not used during review of the evidence, and no formal assessment of bias or strength of evidence was performed.

RESULTS

Of 105 articles identified in the initial search, 13 articles were included in the final evidence review and synthesis. Prehospital administration of antibiotics in combat and civilian trauma patients consists of mostly observational, retrospective studies that describe use as likely safe, but with uncertainty as to its effect on important clinical outcomes. Both combat and civilian analyses of protocol adherence and inter-rater reliability for recognition and treatment of injuries have also produced variable and inconsistent results. These results pose a challenge for implementation and highlight the inherent limitations and external validity of efficacy outcomes published to date.

CONCLUSIONS

Prehospital administration of prophylactic antibiotics for trauma appears safe and may be considered in some specific patient populations. Universal and widespread adoption of this intervention needs further study to identify the true impact on patient-centered outcomes and identification of patients who might confer greatest benefit. Local practice characteristics may support adoption of multidisciplinary-developed prudent and practicable protocols incorporating the use of prophylactic antibiotics for some trauma patients such as those with open fractures or those with significant delays in transport to definitive care. Future research should attempt to address the appropriate identification of wounds and injury patterns that have the highest likelihood of benefit from prehospital administration of antibiotics, the ideal timing of administering the antibiotic(s) following initial injury, impact on infection rates, and other important patient outcomes.

A controlled release antibiotic wound protectant gel formulated for use in austere environments

Battlefield wounds are at high risk of infection due to gross contamination and delays in evacuation from forward-deployed locations. The aim of this study was to formulate an antibiotic wound gel for application by a field medic in austere environments to protect traumatic wounds from infection during transport. Formulation development was conducted over multiple phases to meet temperature, handling, in vitro elution, and in vivo tissue response requirements. Thermal properties were evaluated by vial inversion, DSC, and syringe expression force in a temperature range of 4-49°C. Handling was evaluated by spreading onto blood-contaminated tissue and irrigation resistance. Controlled antibiotic release was evaluated by a modified USP immersion cell dissolution method. Local tissue effects were evaluated in vivo by subcutaneous implantation in rats for 7 and 28 days. An oleogel composition of cholesterol, hydrogenated castor oil, soybean oil, and glyceryl monocaprylocaprate met the target performance criteria. Peak expression force from a 5 mL syringe at 4°C was 48.3 N, the dropping point temperature was 68°C, and the oleogel formulation could be spread onto blood-contaminated tissue and resisted aqueous irrigation. The formulation demonstrated sustained release of tobramycin in PBS at 32°C for 5 days. Implantation in a rat dorsal pocket demonstrated a slight tissue reaction after 7 days with minimal to no reaction after 28 days, comparable to a commercial hemostat control. Material resorption was evident after 28 days. The formulation met target characteristics and is appropriate for further evaluation in a large animal contaminated blast wound model.

Prophylactic antibiotic use for penetrating trauma in prolonged casualty care: A review of the literature and current guidelines

ABSTRACT

Prolonged casualty care (PCC), previously known as prolonged field care, is a system to provide patient care for extended periods of time when evacuation or mission requirements surpass available capabilities. Current guidelines recommend a 7- to 10-day course of ertapenem or moxifloxacin, with vancomycin if methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is suspected, for all penetrating trauma in PCC. Data from civilian and military trauma have demonstrated benefit for antibiotic prophylaxis in multiple types of penetrating trauma, but the recommended regimens and durations differ from those used in PCC, with the PCC guidelines generally recommending broader coverage. We present a review of the available civilian and military literature on antibiotic prophylaxis in penetrating trauma to discuss whether a strategy of broader coverage is necessary in the PCC setting, with the goal of optimizing patient outcomes and antibiotic stewardship, while remaining cognizant of the challenges of moving medical material to and through combat zones. Empiric extended gram-negative coverage is unlikely to be necessary for thoracic, maxillofacial, extremity, and central nervous system trauma in most medical settings. However, providing the narrowest appropriate antimicrobial coverage is challenging in PCC because of limited resources, most notably, delay to surgical debridement. Antibiotic prophylaxis regimen must be determined on a case-by-case basis based on individual patient factors while still considering antibiotic stewardship. Narrower regimens, which focus on matching up the site of infection to the antibiotic chosen, may be appropriate based on available resources and expertise of treating providers. When resources permit in PCC, the narrower cefazolin-based regimens (with the addition of metronidazole for esophageal or abdominal involvement, or gross contamination of central nervous system trauma) likely provide adequate coverage. Levofloxacin is appropriate for ocular trauma. Ideally, cefazolin and metronidazole should be carried by medics in addition to first-line antibiotics (moxifloxacin and ertapenem, Literature Synthesis and Expert Opinion; Level V).

Prehospital Lessons From the War in Ukraine: Damage Control Resuscitation and Surgery Experiences From Point of Injury to Role 2

The ongoing war in Ukraine presents unique challenges to prehospital medical care for wounded combatants and civilians. The purpose of this article is to identify, describe, and address gaps in prehospital care, casualty evacuation, and medical evacuation throughout Ukraine to share lessons for other providers. Observations and experiences of medical personnel were collected and analyzed, focusing on pain management, antibiotic use, patient assessment, mass casualty triage, blood loss, hypothermia, transport immobilization, and clinical governance. Gaps identified include limited access to pain management, lack of antibiotic guidance, inadequate patient assessment and triage, access to damage control resuscitation and blood, challenged transport immobilization practices, and challenges with clinical governance for both local and foreign providers. Improved prehospital care and casualty and medical evacuation in Ukraine are required, through increased use of empiric pain management, focused antibiotic guidance, enhanced patient assessment and triage in the form of training, access to prehospital blood, and better transport immobilization practices. A robust and active lessons learned program, trauma data capture, and quality improvement process is needed to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality in the war zone. The recommendations presented in this article serve as a starting point for improvements in prehospital care in Ukraine with potential to change prehospital training for the NATO alliance and other organizations operating in similar areas of conflict. Graphical Abstract.

A Retrospective Analysis of Combat Injury Patterns and Prehospital Interventions Associated with the Development of Sepsis

BACKGROUND

Combat injury related wound infections are common. Untreated, these wound infections may progress to sepsis and septic shock leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Understanding infectious complications, patterns, progression, and correlated prehospital interventions are vital to understand the development of sepsis. We aim to analyze demographics, injury patterns, and interventions associated with sepsis in battlefield settings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of previously published data from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DoDTR) from 2007 to 2020. We searched for casualties diagnosed with sepsis (excluding line-sepsis) throughout their initial hospitalization. Regression models were used to seek associations.

RESULTS

Our initial request yielded 28,950 encounters, of which 25,654 (88.6%) were adults that met inclusion, including 243 patients (0.9%) diagnosed with sepsis. Patients included US military (34%), non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military (33%) and humanitarian (30%) groups. Patients diagnosed with sepsis had a significantly lower survival rate than non-septic patients (78.1% vs. 95.7%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in administration of prehospital antibiotics between septic and the general populations (10.6% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.395). Prehospital intraosseous access (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.27-1.91, p = 0.207) and packed red cell administration (1.63, 1.24-2.15, 0.029) were the interventions most associated with sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

Sepsis occurred infrequently in the DoDTR when evacuation from battlefield is not delayed, but despite increased intervention frequency, developing sepsis demonstrates a significant drop in survival rates. Future research would benefit from the development of risk mitigation measures.

The Israeli Defense Forces Point of Injury Antimicrobial Treatment Protocol - A New Protocol and Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

Combat wound infection is a common and serious complication, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. In 2005, a point of injury antimicrobial protocol was published by the Israel Defense Forces, in which Moxifloxacin was chosen. During 2016-2017, a revision of this protocol was performed and concluded with the publication of an updated protocol. The purpose of this report is to present this process and the revised protocol, together with a review of the literature.

METHODS

We searched "Medline" and "Google Scholar" for studies dealing with antimicrobial prophylaxis in trauma, for militaries' point of injury antimicrobial protocol protocols and for established surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis protocols.

RESULTS

Point of injury antimicrobial protocol is aimed at preventing early infection and its complications. The choice of Moxifloxacin for this purpose may not be optimal since Moxifloxacin spectrum might be overly broad, there is scant evidence supporting it for this indication, and the available preparation does not meet distinctive technical requirements. Contrarily, Ceftriaxone seemed to have suitable microbiological, pharmacological and technical features.

CONCLUSION

Point of injury antimicrobial protocol should be used especially when evacuation and definitive surgical treatment are delayed. According to present scientific data and operational needs, Ceftriaxone was chosen for most penetrating injuries, with Metronidazole addition for penetrating abdominal and cranial trauma.