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Burn injuries in Zaria: a one year prospective study
1Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
Insights
This study on burn injuries found scalds common in young children and flame burns in older individuals. Burn wound sepsis, often caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was the most frequent complication, contributing to a 17% mortality rate.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Burn injuries represent a significant public health concern, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.
- Understanding the epidemiology of burn injuries is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively analyze the characteristics, causes, complications, and outcomes of burn injuries in admitted patients.
- To identify common burn types and causative agents across different age groups.
- To determine the incidence of burn wound sepsis and associated microbial profiles.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 53 patients admitted for burn care over a 12-month period.
- Data collection included patient demographics, burn etiology, injury severity (mean % BSA), complications, and hospital stay duration.
- Microbiological analysis was performed to identify causative agents of burn wound sepsis.
Main Results:
- The study included 53 patients (60% male, 40% female), with 40% aged 0-4 years. Scalds were most common in young children (70%), while flame burns affected 33% of those 16 and older.
- Clothing fires, kerosene, gas, and clothing burns resulted in the most extensive injuries (mean % BSA 45-46).
- Burn wound sepsis, primarily by gram-negative bacilli (65.63%), with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus being frequent, complicated patient recovery. Mean hospital stay was 46.52 days, and the mortality rate was 17%.
Conclusions:
- Burn injuries exhibit distinct etiological patterns across different age groups, necessitating targeted prevention efforts.
- Burn wound sepsis is a major complication, highlighting the need for robust infection control measures.
- Addressing social, cultural, and economic factors is essential for effective burn injury prevention and reduction of mortality.
Abstract:
Fifty three patients admitted for burn care during a 12 month period from September 1987 to August 1988 were prospectively studied. There were 36 males (60%) and 21 females (40%) with ages ranging from 3 months to 60 years. Children aged 0-4 constituted 40% but 32 (60%) were younger than 16 years. Flame burns affected 26 (49%) patients, scalds in 22 (12%), electrical burns affected four patients and chemical burn was in one. Scald was the commonest injury among children aged 0-4 (70%). Flame, affected 33% of those aged 16 and above. Clothing fire was the commonest flame injury and it was a cause of very extensive injury (mean % BSA 45). Kerosene burn, gas and clothing burns caused the most extensive injury with a mean % BSA 46, 41 and 45 respectively. The commonest complication was burn wound sepsis most frequently by a gram-negative bacilli (65.63%) of which Pseudomonas aeruginosa were that commonest organisms. Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus were about same frequency. Duration of hospital stay ranged from 6 days to 300 days with a mean of 46.52 days. 8 patients absconded, two were transferred to a hospital near their home and 9 died, giving a mortality rate of 17%. Since burn injuries are largely preventable, it is important to define clearly the social, cultural and economic factors which contribute to burn causation in order to combat them effectively.