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Yeast from burn patients at a major burn centre of China
Gaoxing Luo1, Yizhi Peng, Zhiqiang Yuan
1Institute of Burn Research, Southwestern Hospital, State Key Lab of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
Aim:
This study presents fungi and their characteristics identified from burn patients at a major Chinese burn centre.
Methods:
All burns patients admitted to our Burn Research Institute from 2003 to 2006 inclusive were included in this study. Once fungal infection was suspected clinically, samples including wound tissue, blood, urine, stool and sputum were harvested for the culture of yeast. The sensitivities of the identified yeast were determined and the positive samples and cases were analysed.
Results:
Out of a total of 3909 cases, 467 patients were clinically suspected of fungal infection, of which 1970 samples were taken for yeast culture. A total of 38 samples and 36 patients tested positive. The three most positive samples were urine, blood and catheter. Candida tropicalis was identified as the most common yeast type (42.1%), followed by Candida albicans (31.6%), Candida famata (T. Famata) (10.5%) and Candida glabrata (T. Glabrata) (7.9%). Except for C. galbrata, most of the yeast strains found in the study were sensitive to the routine antimycotic agents. There were eight deaths in the 36 positive patients. As much as 83.3% of the positive cases suffered burns of more than 50% total body surface area (TBSA) and half of the positive cases were greater than 80% TBSA. A total of 78.95% of the positive samples were taken from patients after 2 weeks post-burn injury.
Conclusion:
A profile of the fungi isolated from burn patients in a major Chinese burn centre is presented.
Insights
Fungal infections are a concern in burn patients. This study identified common yeast types, including Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans, in Chinese burn patients, with most strains sensitive to antifungals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Burn Care
Background:
- Fungal infections pose a significant threat to burn patients, potentially leading to severe complications.
- Understanding the spectrum of fungal pathogens in burn units is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize fungal species isolated from burn patients at a major Chinese burn center.
- To analyze the prevalence and risk factors associated with fungal infections in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of burn patients admitted between 2003 and 2006.
- Collection and culture of various samples (wound tissue, blood, urine, stool, sputum) for yeast identification.
- Determination of yeast sensitivities to antifungal agents.
Main Results:
- Out of 3909 cases, 36 patients tested positive for fungal infection.
- Candida tropicalis (42.1%) and Candida albicans (31.6%) were the most common yeasts identified.
- Positive samples were frequently from urine, blood, and catheters; 83.3% of positive cases had >50% total body surface area burns.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive profile of fungi isolated from burn patients in a major Chinese burn center was established.
- The study highlights the importance of monitoring fungal infections in severe burn cases.
- Most isolated yeast strains showed sensitivity to routine antifungal medications, except for Candida glabrata.
