ABSTRACT
A retrospective chart review was conducted for 100 patients treated in our Burn Unit to study the incidence and nature of burn wound infection, which is our most common and serious complication in burns. Quantitative estimates of infection were obtained by culturing bacterial flora from surface swabs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the predominant burn wound pathogen, only a few patients developed fungal infections. A significant association was found between increasing burn size and increasing incidence of Gram-negative invasive organisms. Restriction in the prophylactic usage of antibiotics and environmental control within the Burn Unit may help to decrease the incidence of infection. Regular wound care has been effective in decreasing wound sepsis. It has been concluded that the relatively poor socioeconomic conditions of many of our patients and the delay in referring patients to the Burn Unit are the most important predisposing factors in burn wound infection.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Burns/microbiology , Bacteria, Aerobic/isolation & purification , Bacteria, Anaerobic/isolation & purification , Bacterial Infections/therapy , Burn Units , Burns/therapy , Humans , Jordan , Mycoses/etiology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
This paper describes the treatment of patients with thermal injury in Jordan University Hospital. Between 1976 and 1980 inclusive 338 patients were treated in general surgical wards. More recently a new specialized burn unit has been built and between April 1985 and July 1986, 100 patients have been treated in this new unit. Compared with the earlier study there has been an increase in the number of patients admitted with more severe burns. Among these 100 patients scalds and fire-burn injury have a nearly equal incidence. Small children are especially vulnerable. The mortality rate, the incidence of disability and the duration of stay in hospital has decreased compared with the previous study.
Subject(s)
Burn Units , Burns/therapy , Hospital Departments , Intensive Care Units , Surgery Department, Hospital , Adolescent , Burns/etiology , Burns/mortality , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Jordan , Length of Stay , Male , Referral and Consultation , SeasonsABSTRACT
We report a case of tetanus following thermal injury in an 18-month-old girl who had been immunized with the usual triple vaccine and had received a booster dose for tetanus at 15 months of age. She had been admitted initially to a general district hospital and remained there for 10 days before being transferred to the University Hospital. Despite the unparalleled effectiveness and safety of tetanus toxoid, the administration of antitetanus serum (tetanus antitoxin) for patients with suspicious symptoms or wounds grossly contaminated with soil is often highly desirable. A schema of prophylaxis and management of patients with tetanus is provided.
