[The relationship between opportune administration of antibiotics and infection after burn injury: an experimental...

45 male rabbits with 15% III degree burn were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They were divided into three groups: the prevention group, in which cpz (cefoperazone) was immediately administered after the scald at the dose of 25 mg/kg with an interval of 1/12 h for a total of 4 doses; the treatment group, in which cpz was administered 48 th after the scald with the dosage same as above; control group in which cpz was not administered. The findings were as follows: In the prevention group, gross observation showed dessication and crustation of the surface of the wound within 1 week after the scald. By employing immunofluorescent antibody it was found that P. A existed only in the superficial layer. However, ulceration and exudation were found in the control and treatment group within 3 or 4 days after the scald, and P. A was shown to have invaded the deep muscular tissue to cause intermuscular septal abscess. The positive rate of blood culture of bacteria in the prevention group (10/81) was significantly lower than that of the treatment (15/57) and the control groups (21/76, P < 0.05). The death rate of the prevention group (2/15) was significantly lower than that of the treatment (10/15) and the control groups (9/15, P < 0.05). The above finding showed that antibiotics specific to the infectious organism of the wound in extensive burn patients should be given in the early exudation stage in order to ward off invasive infection.