Infections in Burned Patients

Prevention and treatment of burn wound infection requires knowledge of the epidemiology of such infections. Prevention of infection rests on removal of reservoirs or sources of microorganisms from the burn patient's environment and interruption of transfer of microorganisms to the surface of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infection control : IC 1983-11, Vol.4 (6), p.454-459
Main Authors: Mayhall, C. Glen, Polk, Ronald E., Haynes, Boyd W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antibiotics
Antimicrobials
Burn units
Burns
Burns - complications
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Epidemiology
Gentamicins - pharmacology
Humans
Hydrotherapy
Infections
Microorganisms
Nursing
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects
Sepsis
Tobramycin - pharmacology
Wound Infection - drug therapy
Wound Infection - epidemiology
Wound Infection - prevention & control
Wound infections
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Summary:Prevention and treatment of burn wound infection requires knowledge of the epidemiology of such infections. Prevention of infection rests on removal of reservoirs or sources of microorganisms from the burn patient's environment and interruption of transfer of microorganisms to the surface of the wound. When prevention fails and burn wound infection develops, successful therapy may depend on an understanding of the epidemiology of the burn wound during therapy. Contrary to the oft stated concept that antibiotics penetrate the avascular burn wound poorly, our study demonstrated that gentamicin and tobramycin achieved therapeutic concentrations in burn wound tissue. As in other types of infections, susceptible microorganisms were eradicated and resistant microorganisms persisted. Of most importance was the observation that resistant microorganisms may repopulate the wound within four days of starting therapy. It would appear that failure of therapy is not due to failure of antibiotics to penetrate the burn wound but rather to rapid development of superinfection during therapy.
ISSN:0195-9417
2327-9451
DOI:10.1017/S019594170005846X