Bacterial infection profile and predictors among patients admitted to a burn care center: A retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Infection is the main cause of mortality and complications in burn patients. The present study was the first to examine the local profile and antecedents of bacterial infections among patients admitted to a Lebanese burn care center.

Methods: The present study was a retrospective analysis of the occurrence and recurrence of infection, its characteristics as well as antimicrobial susceptibility among 475 patients admitted to the Burn Centre at the Lebanese Geitaoui Hospital between January 2014 and December 2018.

Results: 55% of patients contracted at least one infection during their hospitalization. Length of stay (LOS), sepsis, wound dressing under anesthesia, blood transfusion and female sex independently and positively predicted infection in burn patients. Infection was predominately caused by Staphylococcus aureus (48.7%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.6%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (15.7%). Bacterial isolates were predominately multi-drug or extensively drug resistant and showed variable antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Recurrent infections occurred in 44.1% of infected burn patients, and were independently predicted by LOS (p = 0.004), sepsis (p = 0.001), surgery (p = 0.003), burn excision and skin grafting (p = 0.019), and central line insertion (p = 0.004).

Conclusion: Existing burn management and infection control measures must be revised in order to reduce the incidence and improve the treatment of infections in burn patients.

Keywords: Bacteria; Burns; Drug resistance; Infection; Risk factors.