[The basic principles of the antibiotic therapy of burn patients]

Proceeding from many years experience with antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections in burnt patients, accumulated in the Section of Burns and Plastic Surgery, and pertinent literature reports, the basic principles of antibacterial therapy in this contingency of patients are set forth. A detailed protocol is presented, based on: 1) presence of clinical and laboratory evidence of infection and its location, and the most likely causing agents involved, 2) bacteriological data on the commonest causing agents of local and systemic infection in burns, and their sensitivity to antibiotics, 3) duration and surface, deepness and location of the burn injury, and 4) spectrum of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and side effects of the various groups of antibiotics, consistent with the age and concomitant diseases of the patients. A number of antibiotic constellations in cases presenting sepsis where resorting to "blind" therapy is necessitated, are recommended. It is underscored that the protocol suggested is open for modifications, and also that antibiotic therapy efficiency may be anticipated only when combined with adequate infusional and operative management.