The Hidden Dangers of Grilling: Accidental Wire Bristle Ingestion

What is it about?

Highlights: • Wire-bristle grill brushes, used for cleaning grill grates, may lose bristles when used. These bristles can adhere to the grill, become stuck to food, and then accidentally be ingested. A literature and national database review yielded case reports and documented injuries from ingestion, sometimes requiring surgery. • The public and physicians may not be cognizant of the dangers and the medical implications of wire bristle injuries. Lack of awareness can result in a delayed diagnosis and intervention. • Data shows that the majority of these injuries tend to be located in the head and neck region, with incidents more commonly occurring in the summer months. • Use of alternative cleaning methods may reduce this problem ALEXANDRIA, VA—Research published today in the April 2016 edition of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery examines the incidence of injuries caused by ingesting wire bristles from grill brushes, and prompts physicians and consumers to take notice before the summer grilling season. Researchers reviewed literature and used the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and the consumer reported injury database SaferProducts.gov to estimate emergency department visits for wire bristle injuries between 2002 and 2014. The study’s authors estimated 1698 cases presented to emergency departments in that time but caution that the estimate doesn’t include cases presenting at urgent care facilities or other outpatient settings. “The issue is likely under reported and thus underappreciated,” said the study’s lead author, C.W. David Chang, MD. “Because of the uncommon nature of wire bristle injuries, people may not be as mindful about the dangers and implications. Awareness among emergency department physicians, radiologists, and otolaryngologists is particularly important so that appropriate diagnostic studies—whether flexible endoscopy or radiographs—are performed” The most common location of injury was the oral cavity and the oropharynx which includes the throat and tonsils. In all databases, injuries involving the esophagus and head and neck were more frequent than abdominal injuries.

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Why is it important?

Accidental injury from ingestion of wire bristles from grill brushes may be under-recognized and under-appreciated. If undiagnosed, the embedded wire bristle may cause pain, infection, and surgical remedy.