ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida isolates from wounds and blood of burn victims, and the associated mortality rates compared with those of controls without candidaemia. METHODS: We performed a nested case-control study within a database of clinical data for all patients admitted to our burn unit from January 2001 to December 2005. Each candidaemic patient was compared with two matched controls. Bloodstream cultures were performed if the core temperature was >39 degrees C, and three sites were cultured weekly for fungal identification (burn wound, pharynx, urinary tract). RESULTS: At least one episode of candidaemia was diagnosed among 20 of 851 persons admitted during the study period. Isolates in bloodstream infection were Candida albicans (65%), C. parapsilosis (25%) and C. tropicalis (10%). The median time between admission and onset of candidaemia was greater with C. albicans infection (42.6+/-31 days) than with infection by other yeasts (18+/-12 days). Candidaemia was associated with more extensive burn and longer duration of hospital stay but with similar mortality, compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Candidaemia in burn cases is mostly due to fluconazole-susceptible C. albicans and is not associated with increased mortality.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Burns/drug therapy , Candida/drug effects , Candidiasis/drug therapy , Drug Resistance, Fungal/drug effects , Adult , Burn Units , Burns/microbiology , Burns/mortality , Candida/isolation & purification , Candidiasis/microbiology , Candidiasis/mortality , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data , Male , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We report two cases of severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) primoinfection in seriously burned patients. The infection may have contributed to both patients' fatal outcome. This underlines the importance of research in viral aetiology, especially with regard to CMV, when immunodeficient patients - as burn patients are - develop unexplained fever. We propose a monitoring and a prevention strategy for CMV in the most severely burned patients. The prevention strategy involves the use of skin allografts and blood products in seronegative patients. CMV infection should not be underestimated in severely burned patients.
Subject(s)
Craniocerebral Trauma/diagnosis , Adult , Brain Injuries/diagnosis , Carotid Artery Injuries/diagnosis , Carotid Artery Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Craniocerebral Trauma/diagnostic imaging , Craniocerebral Trauma/therapy , Critical Care , Electroencephalography , Glasgow Coma Scale , Humans , Male , Neurologic Examination , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
The authors report the case of 14-year-old boy admitted for acute coma without neurological focal symptom. The only relevant finding was the death of one uncle after a coma in the year 1992. This coma was associated with an ammonia blood level of 344 mumol l-1 and it rapidly lead to cerebral death despite a symptomatic treatment. The diagnosis of hereditary ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency was confirmed by liver biopsy in the immediate post-mortem period. The authors recommend the measurement of blood ammonia in every coma without diagnosis, whatever patient's age.
