ABSTRACT

Burn injuries usually result in a large spectrum of morbidity and mortality. In addition, they still remain a govermental problem with tremendous costs and reduction of the labor force. In burn patients, skin is prone to infection due to the damage of the skin barrier. Methods for prevention and treatment modalities for burn infection has been reported in many literature publications. Furthermore studies seeking new regimens for better results are tested. Intensive wound care in appropriate enviromental conditions, optimum hospital stay and precaution against infection are aforementioned landmarks for reducing the morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) scores in terms of wound depth, percentages of burn, age and sex to explicate the determined burn wound infections in pediatric burn patients ranged in age of 0-12 years. Moreover we made an effort to demonstrate our clinical approach aimed at decreasing burn wound infections and burn scars.

This investigation was carried out on 203 of our pediatric burn patients in the age range of 0-12 years who were hospitalised during the period of March 2010 to July 2011. Patients were examined in light of age, gender, total burn surface area and ABSI scores within a larger context of burn wound infection. Burn wound tissue samples for microbiological culture assesments were collected before patients were hospitalised and weekly periodic controls were routinely assesed for follow up. Individual antimicrobial treatments for burn wound infection were also analysed.

According to the microbial cultural data examined, burn wound infection was detected in 80 of 203 patients. In thirty-six of these patients, primary contagion occurred during hospitalisation in our burn unit. Fifty-four of the patients had positive cultures according to the samples before they were hospitalised. Mean total body surface area was 6.5% (1-29%). Mean ABSI scores were rather low (3.2 in female and 2.2 in male) due to low total burn surface areas and age ranges as well. Mean hospitalisation period was 15 days. Since the ABSI scores were low, this data has been taken into consideration for mortality and morbidity. We had no mortality among our low TBSA patients, but three of our patients were diagnosed with sepsis.

Lowering incidence of burn wound infection should have priority among pediatric burn patients. For this, we suggest daily, dynamic wound care under general anesthesia, serial debridement and early wound closure. (JAREM 2012; 2: 55-8)

Keywords: Child, burn, wound, infection