![]() Recent factors contributing to the development of burn wound infection are also discussed, including the nature and extent of the burn injury itself and the secondary immunosuppression resulting from thermal injury. ![]() This review focuses on modern aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of burn wound infections and sepsis. In patients with severe burns over more than 40% of the total body surface area (TBSA), 75% of all deaths are currently related to sepsis from burn wound infection or other infection complications and/or inhalation injury ( 15, 20, 24, 32, 140). As a result, burn-related deaths, depending on the extent of injury, have been halved within the past 40 years ( 7, 252, 320, 369, 373, 439). Improved outcomes for severely burned patients have been attributed to medical advances in fluid resuscitation, nutritional support, pulmonary care, burn wound care, and infection control practices. The survival rates for burn patients have improved substantially in the past few decades due to advances in modern medical care in specialized burn centers. In Canada, the estimated numbers of burn victims and deaths in serious cases are proportionally smaller on a per capita basis ( 265, 349, 403). Moderate to severe burn injuries requiring hospitalization account for approximately 100,000 of these cases, and about 5,000 patients die each year from burn-related complications ( 7, 8, 215, 318, 319, 369). Data from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control in the United States show that approximately 2 million fires are reported each year which result in 1.2 million people with burn injuries ( 7, 318, 319, 369). Patients with serious thermal injury require immediate specialized care in order to minimize morbidity and mortality. Improved outcomes for severely burned patients have been attributed to medical advances in fluid resuscitation, nutritional support, pulmonary and burn wound care, and infection control practices.īurns are one of the most common and devastating forms of trauma. The introduction of silver-impregnated devices (e.g., central lines and Foley urinary catheters) may reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections due to prolonged placement of these devices. Burn patients are also at risk for developing sepsis secondary to pneumonia, catheter-related infections, and suppurative thrombophlebitis. ![]() Early excision of the eschar has substantially decreased the incidence of invasive burn wound infection and secondary sepsis, but most deaths in severely burn-injured patients are still due to burn wound sepsis or complications due to inhalation injury. A current summary of the classifications of burn wound infections, including their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, is given. ![]() Significant thermal injuries induce a state of immunosuppression that predisposes burn patients to infectious complications. Burns are one of the most common and devastating forms of trauma. ![]()
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