Management of burn wound infection

Abstract

Changes in the management of burn wounds popularized by Herndon. brought a paradigm shift in the typical infecting aetiology and progression of disease. Associations to development of Gram-negative burn wound infection include increased total body surface area (TBSA), Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI), Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation, version 2 (APACHE-2) scores, and length of hospital stay. The presence of multiple such factors warrants a high index of suspicion and should be included in risk assessment. Human resource planning, including designation of clinical microbiology, infection control, and specialized cleaning/housekeeping staff in day-to-day management of burn patients is crucial. Meticulous attention to hand hygiene continues to be imperative in reducing cross-contamination rates, however, evidence regarding ‘bare below the elbow‘ policies is scant and contended.