Microbiological aspects of burns at Mount Vernon Hospital, UK

Bacterial infection in 100 burned patients over a 10-month period has been studied. The commonest colonizing organism was Staph. aureus (69 per cent), followed by E. coli (35 per cent). Pseud. aeruginosa accounted for only 28 per cent of isolates. The role of the different bacterial species in burns pathology is discussed. Group G haemolytic streptococci were isolated from 10 per cent of patients and caused graft failure in some cases. Only 3 per cent of patients developed septicaemia and all were due to Staph. aureus. Our approach to management of infection in burns, especially the policy on systemic antimicrobial chemotherapy, is described.