Systematic utilization of an antipseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in a severe burn unit

The biological and clinical results of vaccination against pseudomonas aeruginosa infection have been analyzed for a group of 287 burned patients having over 25% surface burnt. The vaccine used was a cellular one inactivated by heat and containing 10 different strains. The effectiveness has been judged on the one hand by the increase in the antipseudomonas antibody count and on the other by comparing a group of vaccinated patients with a non-vaccinated group. After vaccination, the antipseudomonas aeruginosa antibodies increased from the 4th-5th day and reached an impressive increase after the 10th day. Clinically, protection is almost complete if one considers that pseudomonas aeruginosa positive blood cultures appear 15 days after vaccination, and above all the prognosis of these late infections. Both locally and generally, this vaccine has always been perfectly tolerated.