Contribution of Bacterial and Viral infections to Attributable Mortality in Patients with Severe Burns: An Autopsy Series

Abstract

Bacterial infections are a common cause of mortality in burn patients and viral infections, notable herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) have also been associated with mortality. This study is a retrospective review of all autopsy reports from patients with severe thermal burns treated at the US Army Institute of Research (USAISR) burn unit over 12 years. The review focused on those patients with death attributed to a bacterial or viral cause by autopsy report. Of 3751 admissions, 228 patients died with 97 undergoing autopsy. Death was attributed to bacteria for 27 patients and to virus for 5 patients. Bacterial pathogens associated with mortality included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. This association with mortality was independent of % total body surface area burn, % full thickness burn, inhalation injury and day of death post burn.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA629425

Entities

People

  • Brian K. Hogan
  • Clinton K. Murray
  • David Barillo
  • Duane R. Hospenthal
  • Evan M. Renz
  • Florence L. Loo
  • John B Holcomb
  • Laurie C. D'avignon
  • Leopoldo C. Cancio
  • Seung H. Kim

Organizations

  • United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Bacteria
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Burns
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Infection
  • Infection Control
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Skin Diseases
  • Thermal Burns
  • Wound Infections
  • Wounds And Injuries

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Medical or Health Care Field.
  • Microbial Pathology
  • Virology (or Medical Virology).