Bacterial Infections After Burn Injuries: Impact of Multidrug Resistance
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 8 October 2017
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 65 (12), 2130-2136
- https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix682
Abstract
Patients who are admitted to the hospital after sustaining a large burn injury are at high risk for developing hospital-associated infections. If patients survive the initial 72 hours after a burn injury, infections are the most common cause of death. Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most important infection in this patient population. The risk of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens increases with hospital length of stay in burn patients. In the first days of the postburn hospitalization, more susceptible, Gram-positive organisms predominate, whereas later more resistant Gram-negative organisms are found. These findings impact the choice of empiric antibiotics in critically ill burn patients. A proactive infection control approach is essential in burn units. Furthermore, a multidisciplinary approach to burn patients with a team that includes an infectious disease specialist and a pharmacist in addition to the burn surgeon is highly recommended.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (5T32GM008450-23)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
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