Abstract INTRODUCTION This study aimed to describe the profile of
freshwater stingray
injuries in the
State of Amazonas, Brazilian
Amazon, and to identify the associated
risk factors for
secondary infections.
METHODS This
cross-sectional study used
surveillance data from 2007 to 2014 to identify factors associated with
secondary infections from stingray
injuries. RESULTS A total of 476
freshwater stingray
injuries were recorded, with an
incidence rate of 1.7 cases/100,000
person/year. The majority of
injuries were reported from
rural areas (73.8%) and 26.1% were related to
work activities. A total of 74.5% of
patients received
medical assistance within the first 3 hours of
injury.
Secondary infections and
necrosis were observed in 8.9% and 3.8%, respectively.
Work-related
injuries [
odds ratio (OR) 4.1,
confidence interval (CI); 1.87-9.13] and >24 hours from a
sting until receiving
medical care (OR; 15.5, CI; 6.77-35.40) were independently associated with the
risk of
secondary bacterial infection.
CONCLUSIONS:
In this study,
work-related
injuries and >24 hours from being stung until receiving
medical care were independently and significantly associated with the
risk of
secondary infection. The frequency of
infection following
sting injuries was 9%. The major factor associated with the
risk of
secondary bacterial infection was a
time period of >24 hours from being stung until receiving
medical care.