RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effectiveness of MEBO in the treatment of burn patients with burn area over 50% TBSA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and ninety-eight patients hospitalized in our hospital from May of 1991 to December of 2003 with burn area over 50% TBSA, who had MEBO treatment before hospitalization, were enrolled in the study as the experiment (E) group. Another group of 300 burn patients with burn area over 50% TBSA that treated with SD-Ag cream were enrolled in the study as the control (C) group. Bacterial culture results, major changes in injury and mortality were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 1 506 bacteria strains isolated from wounds in E group, and 9 main changes in injury (1679 cases) occurred with 20.8% mortality in this group. There were 353 bacteria strains isolated, with occurrence of 9 changes in injury (518 cases) and 4.7% mortality in the SD-Ag group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MEBO is much less effective for the treatment of the burn patients with large burn area compared with SD-Ag cream treatment.</p>