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As Memorial Day approaches, we tend to think of family and remembering our fallen heroes, reinforcing the human spirit and the special ways we are bound together.
It's also a time to gather around the grill to enjoy some savory dishes as we get ready for summer.
But the next time you clean your grill, you may want to spend a little extra time inspecting your wire-bristle brushes for loose bristles that could potentially lodge in meat or other foods as well, leading to injuries in your mouth, and if swallowed--potentially dangerous and deadly injury to your esophagus, stomach or intestines.
As described by a recent post by Julianna LeMieux, Ph.D, of the American Council on Science and Health, the potential for injury associated with wire-bristle brushes that we use to clean our grills should make us all pay attention as the summer approaches.
LeMieux cites a recently published study describing patients from 2002-2014 who sustained injuries from the wire-bristle brushes that led to ER visits requiring evaluation including endoscopy, even resulting in intra-abdominal surgery.
Data from this study allowed the authors to estimate that there were close to 1,700 ER visits linked to injuries from loose wire bristles over the 12-year period--certainly not a common occurrence, but one that demands awareness and attention. The injuries generally happened in the summer, peaking in July, and occurred equally in men and women. The average age of persons treated was 30 years old, with bristles getting stuck in the mouth, tongue, tonsils and throat, ultimately leading to injuries associated related to punctures or embedment.
More serious injuries have also been described in prior case reports (which I had previously noted in 2012) detailing intestinal perforations requiring surgery, intravenous antibiotics, and leading to prolonged hospital stays.
LeMieux explains that while these injuries are not common--on average, only 142 patients annually are seen with this injury-- it’s important to be careful with your grill brushes and spend time inspecting them for any loose bristles that can potentially lodge in meat cooked on the grill.
The bristles can become embedded in cooked meat, and you may not experience pain until the bristles penetrate and potentially perforate your esophagus, stomach or intestines, leading to peritonitis, a dangerous and deadly condition that is the result of spillage of intestinal contents (feces, bacteria, intestinal enzymes) into the abdominal cavity. This represents a surgical emergency, requiring a CT scan, intravenous antibiotics, potentially catheter-based drainage and even explorative surgery should it occur.
The bottom line is this: Whenever you grill, it’s critical to inspect the brush for loose bristles , but also the grill surface itself for any stray or lingering bristles after you brush it, as well as cooked food before you consume it.
