Abstract
Background and Objectives: Burn wound is one of the most common causes, which not only damages skin, but also associated with different bacterial infections. Because of increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics, treatment of burn wounds becomes much more difficult. The aim of this study was to identify the causative agents of burn wound infections, determination of sensitivity pattern of isolates and investigation of different factors such as sex, age, mortality in relation to burns.
Materials and Methods: During one year (1999-2000), samples were taken from the burn wound infections on 126 selected and hospitalized patients at burn wards of Sina Medical Center, and were examined by microscopic and cultural methods. For epidemiological study, data were collected from the patients, files.
Results: A total of 126 samples were processed, and 73 bacteria were identified, 47 (64.38%) out of them were P. aeruginosa and 25 (35.62%) constituted by other bacterial species. Ninety point nine percent of patients who died had positive culture results. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most prevalent bacterium (64.38%) followed by S. aureus (13.69%) among burn infection isolates.Despite susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to the third generation cephalosporins such as cefoprazon (76.9%), ceftazidim (71%) and cefotaxim (59.3%), its increased resistance to different antibiotics must be taken into consideration. The most common cause of burns after boiling water (46%) was kerosene accidents (23%). The most common cause of burns in children was also boiling water.
Conclusion: Recognition of the clinical importance of P. aeruginosa and other bacteria in burn wound infections and their resistance to antibiotics shows the need to take appropriate measures to prevent and minimize transmission and infection in the hospitalized patients. Boiling water takes the first most important cause of burns.