TABLE 1.
Characteristics of trauma patients with tissue specimens analyzed by PCR-based assays
| Characteristica | Case patientsb (n = 64) | Controlsb (n = 102) | P valuef |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male [no. (%)] | 64 (100) | 102 (100) | NA |
| Afghanistan operational theater [no. (%)] | 64 (100) | 102 (100) | NA |
| Blast injury [no. (%)] | 62 (96.9) | 82 (80.4) | 0.002 |
| Dismounted injuryc [no. (%)] | 49 (94.2) | 76 (85.4) | 0.168 |
| Injury severity score [median (IQR)] | 42 (33–57) | 25.5 (18–33) | <0.0001 |
| 1–9 (mild) [no. (%)] | 0 | 3 (2.9) | <0.0001 |
| 10–15 (moderate) [no. (%)] | 0 | 11 (10.8) | |
| 16–25 (severe) [no. (%)] | 2 (3.1) | 37 (36.3) | |
| ≥26 (critical) [no. (%)] | 62 (96.9) | 51 (50.0) | |
| Blood (RBC) units 24 h postinjury [median (IQR)] | 32 (23–44) | 10 (5–19) | <0.0001 |
| Zero [no. (%)] | 0 | 2 (2.2)d | <0.0001 |
| 1–9 [no. (%)] | 4 (6.3) | 40 (43.0) | |
| 10–20 [no. (%)] | 6 (9.4) | 32 (34.4) | |
| >20 [no. (%)] | 54 (84.4) | 19 (20.4) | |
| Traumatic amputationse [no. (%)] | |||
| Above knee | 38 (59.4) | 21 (20.6) | <0.0001 |
| Bilateral above knee | 9 (14.1) | 5 (4.9) | 0.039 |
| Amputation plus serious injury to opposite limb | 31 (48.4) | 16 (15.7) | <0.0001 |
| Perineal, GU injury, or abdominal injury [no. (%)] | 61 (95.3) | 63 (61.8) | <0.0001 |
| Colostomy [no. (%)] | 20 (31.3) | 3 (2.9) | <0.0001 |
| LRMC SOFA [median (IQR)] | 11 (6–13) | 3 (2–8) | <0.0001 |
| U.S. hospital SOFA [median (IQR)] | 8 (4–12) | 1 (0–2) | <0.0001 |
| Mechanical ventilation [no. (%)] | <0.0001 | ||
| None | 11 (17.2) | 63 (61.8) | |
| LRMC only | 7 (10.9) | 20 (19.6) | |
| LRMC and U.S. hospital ≤1 wk | 46 (71.9) | 17 (16.7) | |
| LRMC and U.S. hospital >1 wk | 0 | 2 (2.0) |
GU, genitourinary injury; RBC, red blood cell; SOFA, sequential organ failure assessment.
Case patients were those with histopathology positive for fungal nonvascular-tissue invasion or angioinvasion; controls were patients with histopathology that did not identify any fungal elements.
Dismounted refers to being on foot patrol. Mounted status was missing for 12 case patients and 13 controls. Percentages and P values are based on total minus missing.
Blood information was missing for nine controls. Percentages and P values are based on total minus missing.
Patients may have had more than one type of traumatic amputation, so the categories are not mutually exclusive.
NA, not applicable.