Haematology reports of routine blood films in patients with burns

A retrospective pilot study of 99 peripheral blood films from 27 patients with burns is reported. Abnormalities of the granular leucocyte series were more common in the more extensive burns and usually preceded bacteriological evidence of wound pathogens or a clinical decision to take a blood culture. The evidence suggests that a prospective study is needed to determine the possible clinical value of reporting such granulocyte abnormalities. Abnormalities of the myelo-monocytic and lymphocyte cell lines were sufficiently frequent to permit fundamental research of possible relevance not only to patients with burns but in other host responses such as in sepsis, malaria or AIDS.