RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate and re-evaluate the relationship between burn wound sepsis and tissue bacterial quantity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two patients admitted during past 5 years were enrolled in the study. Bacterial isolation and quantity in burn wound tissue were carried out. Meanwhile clinical signs were evaluated for the staging of burn wound sepsis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1) Bacterial invasion could be identified in 123 pieces of tissue samples from 32 patients. Samples with tissue bacterial quantity > or = 10(5)/g were found in 82 subeschar tissue samples, and 41 samples with bacteria <10(5)/g. Subeschar tissue samples with bacterial quantity > or = 10(5)/g could be determined in 68 samples from 18 patients, and < 10(5)/g in 20 samples from 5 cases. In addition, samples of subeschar tissue with bacterial quantity > or = 10(5)/g could only be found in some of the samples form 9 cases. 2) Burn wound sepsis could be classified into I-IV stages according to tissue bacterial quantification and clinical signs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Burn wound sepsis could be established by identification of bacterial invasion into living tissue with clinical symptoms of toxemia.</p>