Fungal colonisation in burn wounds: An Indian scenerio

Burn patients are susceptible hosts for fungal colonisation.

To study incidence and profile of fungal colonisation of burn wounds.

This prospective study was conducted in 201 consecutive adult patients (39 male and 162 female) with burn wounds, admitted from October 2005 to September 2006. Wounds with clinical suspicion of fungal colonisation were biopsied and examined by wet smear, Potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount, nigrosin stain, 1% Acid fast bacilli (AFB) stain, Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) stain, histopathological examination and fungal culture. All wounds with suspicion of fungal colonisation were treated with topical application of miconazole ointment mixed with povidone-iodine/silver sulphadiazine topically and itraconazole (oral) systemically.

Fungal infection of burn wound was suspected in 77 patients (38.31%) with 20-70% total body surface area (TBSA) burns. Ninety-two biopsy samples were collected from 77 patients. On investigations, fungal colonisation was confirmed in 35 patients. Culture was positive in 23 patients with Candida in 12 and Aspergillus in 4. GMS stain and KOH stain showed sensitivity and specificity of 70.8% and 86.5%, respectively for detecting fungi in burn wound. Nigrosin stain was negative in all patients. Duration of hospitalisation was more in patients having fungal colonisation without any significant effect on the mortality

In 38.31% of patients fungal colonisation was clinically suspected and it was confirmed in 17.41% of 201 patients. GMS stain and KOH stain were observed to have acceptable sensitivity and specificity. With increasing prevalence of Aspergillus, flucanazole cannot be relied upon in controlling fungal colonisation and drugs like itraconazole may have to be used as empirical therapy.

Fungal colonisation of burn wound is not uncommon and should be suspected. Fungi detected most commonly were Candida and Aspergillus. KOH and GMS stain were identified as reliable, simple and inexpensive methods for confirming fungal colonisation.