The following is the summary of “Infections in Pediatric Patients With Burn Injury: 6 Years of Experience”published in the January 2023 issue of Pediatric Infectious Disease by Karaaslan, et al.

The purpose of this research was to identify the incidence of and potential risk factors for bloodstream and wound infections among hospitalized children with burn injuries. Researchers conducted this retrospective descriptive analysis from 2015 to 2021. Patients included all children admitted to the burn unit whose bacteria were isolated from blood and wound culture samples.

Their findings indicate that 142 bacteria were identified from 97 blood culture samples and 45 wound culture samples. The median age of the 115 patients was 21 months; 44 of them were female (38.3%), while 71 were male (61.7%) (interquartile range: 14–39 months). Patients with burns had a higher incidence of bloodstream infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria (54.6%), followed by Gram-negative bacteria (32.9%), and then fungi (12.3%). Overwhelmingly, gram-negative bacteria (86.7%) were responsible for wound infections. Prolonged hospitalization was associated with a larger burn surface area (P= 0.031), greater burn severity (P=0.001), central venous catheter use (P=0.028), and more time spent in the intensive care unit (P=0.044). 

Burn surface area (P=0.018), burn severity (P=0.024), and length of time in the intensive care unit were all independently associated with Gram-negative bacteremia, and Gram-negative wound infections (P=0.023). Prolonged hospitalization was a significant risk factor for fungemia (P=0.026). Patients with extensive burns and a lengthy hospital stay are at a higher risk of contracting an infection. Thus, it is important to do as few intrusive operations as possible utilizing a multidisciplinary approach.

Source: journals.lww.com/pidj/Abstract/2023/01000/Infections_in_Pediatric_Patients_With_Burn_Injury_.2.aspx