TITLE:
Soft Tissue Infections Following Parenteral Injection in Children Aged 0 to 15 Years at the Mother and Child University Hospital Center, N’Djamena (Chad)
AUTHORS:
Olivier Ngaringuem, Mahamat Nour Abakar Djibrine, Lamega Bembo, Kalki Djian-Noné, Djoula Ava Ibrahim
KEYWORDS:
Infection, Soft Tissue, Parenteral Injection, Complications, Pediatrics, Chad
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.15 No.6,
November
5,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Soft tissue infections secondary to parenteral injection frequently arise due to inadequate adherence to aseptic protocols during medical care administration. This study aimed to characterize the clinical presentation, therapeutic management, and outcomes of such infections in a pediatric population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a 12-month period at the Mother and Child University Hospital Center in N’Djamena. All patients aged 0 to 15 years presenting with post-injection soft tissue infections and managed in the pediatric surgery department were included. Data collected encompassed epidemiological, clinical, and outcome variables, recorded using a standardized data collection form. Data entry was performed using Microsoft Word and Excel 2016, and statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS version 20.0. Results: Thirty-seven patients were admitted for soft tissue infections following parenteral injection, accounting for 28% of all admissions to the department. The 1 to 5-year age group represented 48.6% of cases, with a mean patient age of 5.6 years. Injections were most commonly administered as part of malaria treatment (48.6%), with artemether implicated in 54.1% of cases. The buttock was the most frequent injection site (45.9%). Infections were attributed to home-based care in 37.8% of cases, and nurses were responsible for administering injections in 42.3% of cases. Pain was the predominant presenting symptom (72.9%). The interval between injection and hospital admission was 14 to 30 days in 35.1% of cases. Abscess formation was observed in 70.3% of cases, and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 70.3% of samples. Management was primarily based on surgical drainage and empirical antibiotic therapy. Anemia was detected in 67.5% of patients. Clinical outcomes were favorable in 95% of cases, with a mortality rate of 5%. Conclusion: Soft tissue infections secondary to parenteral injection remain a significant pediatric health concern. Strict adherence to aseptic procedures and improved training in injection techniques are essential to enhance patient outcomes.