are gunshot wound infections always fatal?

Question

Answer 1

GSW: Gunshot wounds that are complicated by an infection are not uniformly fatal but certainly can at times lead to mortalities. Mortality rates and infection rates typically depend on the location of the injury. Antibiotics have been quite effective in reducing infection related complications this however will not always be the case

Answer 2

Not any more: In the civil war, leg wound infections from gunshot wounds were so lethal that the best treatment was to cut the leg off. Today unless the bullet destroys a vital organ or blood vessel death from infection usually isn't a problem due to a variety of antibiotics and modern surgical techniques, but i still don't recommend getting shot!

Answer 3

Depends: If the infection is near to the skin level and there is little or no tissue damage, could be easily treated. If the infection is deep within the body or involves injury to blood vessels or the GI tract, it is much more serious., but, no, gunshot wound infections are not always fatal.

Answer 4

No: Many bullets are left in place if removal would cause more damage. The body does a good job of fighting infections. New antibiotics help. It is rare to die from an infected GSW. Though other complication can arise.

Answer 5

Think toilet !: If you understand that a shell is not a clean item and add the contents of the barrel and what it has traveled through and you basically have injected a dirty toilet into the tissues. These are very tricky wounds as the energy in the shot also causes damage that takes a while to show itself (days). Better to be seen by a doctor rather than risk a horrific infection and loss of function.

Answer 6

Velocity? Organs?: As dr. Miller points out the bullet or gun may not be clean and the presence of bacteria may depend on the velocity and energy of the bullet. However penetrating injuries to the bowel can cause devastating fecal soilage of wounds with fatal consequences. Other concerns include tetanus status. Your risk of infection is also related to your overall health and vulnerability and immune state.

Answer 7

Many possibilities: Obviously, it depends what body part is injured. For example, a bowel injury would be quite high risk for infection. The same for a wound to a joint. A bullet that only struck on soft tissue (skin) would be lower, but depends on what caliber etc.

Answer 8

Depends. : Most common would be skin bacteria like staph or strep entering the wound. But if the bowel was struck E. coli or other intestinal bacteria could dominate.

Answer 9

Gunshot wound infn: That depends where gsw occurs. Through a clean area (hand/arm/leg) w/no clothing should be sterile (bullets are hot). Staph ; other skin bugs may cause infn. Shot through clothing pulls fibers ; whatever is on those fibers through ; allows those bacteria access (staph, strep, dirt bugs, gut bugs). Shot to belly can rupture bowel ; gut bacteria (e coli, klebs, enterococcus, pseudomonas, yeast..).

Answer 10

Depends. : Most common would be skin bacteria like staph or strep entering the wound. But if the bowel was struck E. coli or other intestinal bacteria could dominate.

Answer 11

Many possibilities: Many organisms can result from a gun shot wound. You would need an culture to determine the infective organism in order to select the appropriate antibiotic.

Answer 12

Depends. : Most common would be skin bacteria like staph or strep entering the wound. But if the bowel was struck E. coli or other intestinal bacteria could dominate.

are gunshot wound infections always fatal?

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

Similar questions

Which type of infection follows an untreated gunshot wound?

Could you tell me what are possible infections from a gunshot wound?

I was wondering what are possible infections from a gunshot wound?

Can you tell me what kind of infection follows an untreated gunshot wound?

Related questions

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

People also asked

Related topics

Disclaimer:

Get the free app for Members

Get the free app for Doctors