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. 2017 Aug 29:13:1107-1117.
doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S119938. eCollection 2017.

Predicting and managing sepsis in burn patients: current perspectives

Omar Nunez Lopez  1   2 , Janos Cambiaso-Daniel  1   2   3 , Ludwik K Branski  1   2 , William B Norbury  1   2 , David N Herndon  1   2   4
Affiliations

Predicting and managing sepsis in burn patients: current perspectives

Omar Nunez Lopez et al. Ther Clin Risk Manag. .

Abstract

Modern burn care has led to unprecedented survival rates in burn patients whose injuries were fatal a few decades ago. Along with improved survival, new challenges have emerged in the management of burn patients. Infections top the list of the most common complication after burns, and sepsis is the leading cause of death in both adult and pediatric burn patients. The diagnosis and management of sepsis in burns is complex as a tremendous hypermetabolic response secondary to burn injury can be superimposed on systemic infection, leading to organ dysfunction. The management of a septic burn patient represents a challenging scenario that is commonly encountered by providers caring for burn patients despite preventive efforts. Here, we discuss the current perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and septic shock in burn patients.

Keywords: antibiotics; biomarkers; burn injury; burn sepsis; cytokines; procalcitonin; thermal injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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