Management of a Pediatric Burn Center During the Covid-19 Pandemic

• Published in: Journal of Burn Care & Research 2022-03, Vol.43 (2), p.468-473
• Main Authors: Erturk, Ahmet, Demir, Sabri, Oztorun, Can İhsan, Erten, Elif Emel, Guney, Dogus, Bostanci, Suleyman Arif, Sahin, Vildan Selin, Kiris, Atike Gulsah, Bay, Hatice Kübra, Bedir Demirdag, Tugba, Keskin, Gulsen, Azili, Mujdem Nur, Senel, Emrah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Burn Units; Burns - epidemiology; Burns - therapy; Child; Child, Preschool; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Infant; Length of Stay; Male; Original; Pandemics; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1559-047X; 1559-0488
• DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irab137

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of an algorithm that was created to prevent coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) transmission during the management of children with burns in a tertiary pediatric burn center. Children admitted to the burn center between May 2020 and November 2020 were prospectively evaluated for cause, burn depth, TBSA, length of stay, symptoms suggesting COVID-19, suspicious contact history, history of travel abroad, and COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. Patients were divided into two groups: unsuspected (group 1) and suspected (group 2), depending on any history of suspicious contact, travel abroad, and/or presence of symptoms. A total of 101 patients were enrolled in the study, which included 59 boys (58.4%) and 42 girls (41.6%). Group 1 included 79 (78.2%) patients, and group 2 consisted of 22 (21.8%) patients. The most common cause of the burns was scald injuries (74.2%). The mean age, TBSA, and length of stay were 4.5 years, 12.0%, and 13.2 days, respectively. Four patients (3.9%) had a positive PCR test (two patients in each group). Comparing groups, males were more commonly found in group 2 (P = .042), but no differences were found for the other variables. No patients or burn center staff members developed COVID-19 during the course of hospitalization. In conclusion, every child should be tested for COVID-19 upon admission to a burn unit, and a modified algorithm should be constructed for the handling and management of pediatric burn patients.