ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the plasma levels of endotoxin in severe burn patients during administration of antibiotics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty severe burn patients with burn area larger than 30% TBSA were enrolled in the study, and they were respectively treated with Netilmicin (A group), Cefoperazone (B group), Ceftazidime (C group) and Imipenem/Cilastatin (D group). Venous blood samples were harvested for determination of endotoxins levels before treatment and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 post-treatment day (PTD).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma levels of endotoxin were elevated in different degrees in A, B and C groups. The plasma levels of endotoxin in B group were higher on 1, 2 PTD than on 3, 5, 7 PTD, and they were also higher than that in D group (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of endotoxin in C group reached the peak on 5 PTD [(0.398 +/- 0.172) EU/mL], which were higher than that before treatment [(0.251 +/- 0.142) EU/mL, P < 0.05] and other groups (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of endotoxin in D group were lower on 1, 2 PTD than that before treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Different amounts of endotoxins can be released after treatment with antibiotics in severe burn patients. Attention should be paid to the effect of antibiotics on the levels of endotoxin in practice.</p>