The Role of the Infectious Disease Specialists in the Trauma Surgical Team.

Abstract

Introduction: Infection is a significant cause of posttraumatic morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Nosocomial infections are a frequent complication of trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Trauma is predisposed to infections by various mechanisms, while intravascular catheters, endotracheal tubes, and urinary catheters create suitable environments for nosocomial infection during treatment. Following trauma, wound contamination with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria should always be suspected. Material and Methods: In this paper, we want to review the literature regarding the role of infectious disease (ID) specialists in the trauma team and compare it with the situation in our country. Discussion: Infections in trauma are developed because of endogenous bacteremia or as a result of exogenous bacteremia. Since infection significantly prolongs the hospitalization of trauma patients, the infection disease specialist plays a crucial role in preventing and treating infections in collaboration with the surgeon and other trauma team members. The duration of antibiotic treatment is significant. A shorter duration will result in fewer side effects and allergic reactions and reduce long-term antibiotic resistance. Conclusions: The infectious disease specialist is not a standalone figure but an integral part of the trauma team. Their role is not limited to implementing protocols and using appropriate antibiotics before, during, and after surgical procedures. They also closely follow the patients, identifying those with a greater predisposition to develop infections. This collaborative approach is crucial for successfully preventing and managing infections in trauma patients.