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Optimal laceration management is controversial, and current practice is heavily influenced by studies published in the 1970s. To determine risk factors for wound infection, researchers enrolled 2663 patients with lacerations not caused by bites who were treated at three emergency departments (EDs) during 2008 and 2009. After 30 days, patients were interviewed by phone to determine if an infection had developed, which was defined as having been seen by a physician for a wound infection and treated with antibiotics.
The overall infection rate was 2.6%. Rates did not differ between study sites (a level 1 trauma center, a community nonteaching hospital, and an urban teaching hospital) or with the method of wound repair. Time to wound closure was…