[Secondary immunodeficiencies following severe skin burns]

Despite of modern fluid resuscitation, electrolyte management and respiratory care techniques 70% of severely burned patients often survive the early posttraumatic phase only to later succumb to septic complications. Acquired deficiencies in host defense mechanisms are largely held responsible for this increase in susceptibility to sepsis. The thermal insult affects the complex interactions of cells of the immune system by generation and release of suppressive mediators which, in turn, either cause defective cellular functions or overstimulation of regulatory pathways of host defense.