Infections in Burn Patients: A Retrospective View over Seven Years.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Burn Care
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Burn injuries compromise skin integrity, increasing vulnerability to microbial colonization and subsequent infections.
• Burn wound infections can lead to severe complications, including increased mortality.
• Effective management relies on surgical intervention, wound care, and judicious antibiotic therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze treatment courses, antibiotic use, and complications in burn patients.
• To identify factors influencing infection development and mortality in burn patients.
• To evaluate the impact of burn severity and patient management on outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 252 patients with second- or third-degree burns over 7 years.
• Evaluation of treatment, antibiotic therapy, and general complications.
• Statistical analysis including binary logistic regression to assess predictors of infection and mortality.

Main Results:

• Higher total body surface area (TBSA) and Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) scores correlated with increased infection risk and longer hospital stays.
• Patients admitted after 2006 showed shorter hospital stays and lower TBSA/ABSI scores.
• Higher ABSI scores significantly increased the odds of developing infection; bacterial load positively influenced infection odds but not mortality. TBSA was not a significant predictor of mortality.

Conclusions:

• Accurate antibiotic selection, dosing, and timing are critical for optimal burn patient management.
• Monitoring bacterial colonization is essential for early infection detection and appropriate antibiotic choice.
• Preventing multi-resistant bacteria necessitates vigilant infection control and antibiotic stewardship.