ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Golf carts have become a popular mode of transportation off of the links because of their small size, low maintenance, and ease of use. Case reports suggest severe, debilitating injuries as a consequence of golf cart incidents. To date, there has been no national population-based study of golf cart- related injuries. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System identified individuals who visited participating emergency departments from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2005 for injuries sustained as a result of golf carts. RESULTS: An estimated 48,255 (95% confidence interval, 35,342-61,108) golf cart-related injuries occurred in the U.S. between 2002 and 2005; the injury rate was 4.14 of 100,000 population. The highest injury rates were observed in 10 to 19 year olds and those aged 80 and older. Male patients had a higher injury rate than female patients, and whites had a higher rate than blacks or Asians. Contusions/abrasions were the most common diagnosis for the hip and lower extremity region; fractures were the most common diagnosis for shoulder and upper extremity region; and intracranial injuries, including concussions, subdural hematomas, and hemorrhage, were the most common diagnosis for head and neck region. The two most common geographic settings of injuries were sports fields such as golf courses (45.0%) and places of residence (16.0%). CONCLUSION: The popularity of golf carts as a means of transportation calls for mandatory safety standards to be met along with implementation of available safety courses for children who will potentially be operating these vehicles.
Subject(s)
Golf/injuries , Off-Road Motor Vehicles , Wounds and Injuries/diagnosis , Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Confidence Intervals , Female , Humans , Incidence , Injury Severity Score , Male , Middle Aged , Registries , Retrospective Studies , Sex Distribution , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Intraocular candidiasis is a potentially sight-threatening complication of candidemia. While the incidence of candidemia in North America has increased, the prevalence of intraocular candidiasis appears to be decreasing. In the USA and Europe, an ophthalmic examination is recommended for all candidemic patients to rule out intraocular involvement. However, improvements in management, clarification of the diagnosis, and trends in the epidemiology of intraocular candidiasis suggest that some candidemia patients might be safely managed without the recommended dilated ophthalmic examination.