Interferon gamma in trauma-related infections.

Author(s): Dries DJ

Affiliation(s): Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.

Publication date & source: 1996-10, Intensive Care Med., 22 Suppl 4:S462-7.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of interferon gamma therapy in reducing infection and improving outcome from infection in patients sustaining major injury was examined. DESIGN: Randomized double-blind placebo control trial SETTING: Nine level one university affiliated trauma centers in the United States. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred sixteen patients with injury severity score (ISS) > or = 25 or ISS > or = 20 with evidence of wound contamination. INTERVENTION: Recombinant human interferon gamma 100 ug or placebo was given subcutaneously daily for up to 21 days in addition to standard antibiotic therapy. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Comparable rates of major and minor infections were observed. Among the patients treated with interferon gamma there were fewer deaths related to major infection regardless of type [7-(3%) vs 18-(9%)]. The results, however, were dominated by one center which had the highest enrollment, infection and death rates. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are warranted to investigate the role of interferon gamma therapy in improving outcome with major infection.