Effect of antioxidants on the incidence of wound infection in burn patients

Background. Thermal injury causes the destruction of the physical skin barrier that normally protects the body from invasion by micro-organisms and induces an immunocompromised state that predisposes burn patients to infection, sepsis, and multiple organ failure. Reactive oxygen species contribute to burn-mediated immune suppression, and as the use of antioxidants has a positive effect on immune function, this may reduce the incidence of wound infection and related complications in burn patients. Patients and methods. One hundred and eighty burn patients of either sex and different ages, suffering from burns of varying percentage, were involved in the study. They were allocated to six groups: A, B, C, D, E, and F, each of 30 patients. Groups B, C, D, E, and F were treated with antioxidants (vitamins E and C, zinc sulphate, allopurinol, melatonin, and N-acetylcysteine, respectively) while group A was treated without antioxidants, according to our hospital policy. Thirty healthy subjects (group G) were also involved in the study as a control group for comparison. In each group, serum malondialdehyde and serum glutathione levels, microbiological values, healing time, and the mortality rate were measured using standard methods. Results. Administering antioxidants to burn patients produced significant improvements in the parameters studied compared with burn patients not given antioxidants. Conclusion. The study clearly showed the beneficial effect of antioxidants in the treatment of burn patients, as evidenced by the reduced incidence of wound infection and the shortening of healing time, in addition to the lower mortality rate. It is therefore recommended to add antioxidants to the treatment list of burn patients.