[The causative agent of wound infection and sepsis in burn patients]

The content of antibodies to the autostrains of bacteria isolated from the wound and blood of burn patients was studied. Antibodies were found not to all species and strains isolated from the wound, but only to 1 or 2 of them. Usually Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas were detected. The appearance or sharp rise of the titer of antibodies even to one of all strains contaminating the wound was observed in all examined burn patients, including those having septic complications, i.e. all these patients retained their capacity of antibody formation. The causative agent of wound infection and sepsis, determined by a high titer of antibodies to it, was seldom detected in the blood. This was due to the fact that bacteria were agglutinated by antibodies or retained in tissues on the level of the histo-hematic barrier. In cases of the development of septic endocarditis the inhibiting role of antibodies was not manifested, and the causative agent of this infection was often detected in the blood.