Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and Pseudomonas burn wound sepsis

Multiple immune defects have been demonstrated following thermal injury, including defective granulocyte production and function. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhGCSF) is a regulator of the myelopoietic system. The effect of rhGCSF administration on survival and on the myelopoietic system in a murine model of Pseudomonas burn wound sepsis was investigated. Male BDF1 mice that underwent a 15% total body surface area burn injury and burn wound seeding with 1 x 10(8) Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms demonstrated an improved mean survival time with the subcutaneous administration of 100 ng of rhGCSF twice a day. Mice that underwent a similar thermal injury and burn wound seeding with 3 x 10(7) P aeruginosa organisms demonstrated an augmented myelopoietic response through the administration of rhGCSF, as represented by significantly increased white blood cell count, neutrophil count, splenic weight, femoral marrow cellularity, and femoral marrow granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cell count. Myelopoietic augmentation through rhGCSF administration may serve to decrease the morbidity of septic events following thermal injury.