Yeast infection of burns

In a prospective study, 132 patients were investigated for yeast infection of burn wounds. Ten patients (7.6%) were infected with Candida species. All patients with yeast infections were also infected with bacteria with the exception of one patient who was infected with Candida tropicalis alone. The predominant yeast recovered was Candida krusei. Yeast infection was found to be more common in the younger age group. The isolation of a Candida species alone from one patient and Candida isolation from patients with sepsis in burn wounds indicate a significant role for yeasts in the production of infection in burn wounds. Therefore, special cultures for yeasts are recommended for all cases of burn wound infection.