Autosterilization in low-velocity bullets.

Abstract

Following a previous study (1) in which contaminated low-velocity bullets were discharged into sterile gelatin blocks with resultant growth of organisms along projectile tracts, the authors fired bullets coated with 1 drop of Staph. aureus-contaminated medium and bullets under sterile conditions into sterilized sand. Each contaminated projectile and its gun barrel were culture positive after firing. Therefore bullets should not be ruled out as possible sources of infection.