Epidemiological and bacteriological profiles in children with burns

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatric Burn Care
• Microbiology

Background:

• Nosocomial infections (NI) pose a significant threat to hospitalized burned children.
• Identifying prevalent pathogens is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the most prevalent bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections in burned children.
• To guide empiric antibiotic therapy in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• A prospective analytic study was conducted over 30 months at the Children's Hospital of Tunisia.
• Burned children admitted to the hospital were enrolled in the study.

Main Results:

• The incidence rate of NI was 39.1 per 1000 patient-days, with two-thirds of infections being polymicrobial.
• The most common isolated microorganisms were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, 57.7%), wild-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35.9%), and wild-type Enterobacter cloacae (26.9%).
• The case fatality rate was 5.9%, with septic shock and multiple organ failure being the leading causes of death.

Conclusions:

• Wild-type strains of MSSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the predominant pathogens causing NI in burned children.
• Empiric antibiotic treatment combining piperacillin, oxacillin, and gentamicin is suggested for suspected sepsis until causative agents are identified.