[Quantitative bacterial culture of subeschar tissue. A clinical study]

The relationship between the number of bacteria in the subeschar tissue and time, age, burn extent in 47 patients within a week after burn injury are presented. The results showed 1. There is a significant positive correlation between the number of bacteria in the subeschar tissue and time intervals following burn within the first week (r = 0.9839, P < 0.01); 2. In children (below 4 years) and patients over 45 years, there is a higher incidence of having bacterial counts of over 10(5)/gm of tissue than that of young and adolescent patients (P < 0.01); 3. There is a significant difference in subeschar bacterial count between major burns (> 30% TBSA) and smaller burns (< 30% TBSA P < 0.05); 4. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most frequent bacteria isolated, especially in major burns.