Staphylococcal infections in burn

Thermal injury is one of the most common traumas in daily life, and the causes are in great diversity. S. aureus is a major human pathogen causing a great number of illnesses, ranging from skin & soft tissue infections and toxin-mediated disease to invasive infections. The emergence and spread of MRSA among burn centers results in number of poor outcomes such as prolonged hospitalization, economic burden, bacteremia or sepsis and even death, which prompts great urgency in the development of and advocacy for prevention and treatment efforts. Risk factors for acquisition of staphylococcal burn wound infections include: male sex, old age (50-60 years old), large burn surface area (BTBSA ›70%), burns in head and neck, and intake of cefaxone antibiotics. Careful surveillance of infection, good isolation techniques, procedure routines and a restrictive antimicrobial policy can keep antimicrobial resistance rates as well as infection rates low in infection-prone burn patients.