Mortality rate associated with hospital acquired infections among burn patients

Abstract

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are the major contributors of mortality associated with burn injuries. The aim of this research was to document the antecedents affiliated with major burn injuries, hospitalization and mortality in burn patients. We performed a single center prospective study of patients admitted during 3 months period (April-June 2014) in burn wards of government hospital. There were 100 patients in this investigation which were observed weekly. The inclusion criterion was based on the shifting of patients from emergency to the wards after initial treatment of more than 24 h. Variables included were age and gender of the patient, the percent total body surface area (%TBSA) burn, the cause of the burn. Mean age of patients was 30.29 years. More females (55.67%) were admitted than males (44.32%). The total body surface area (%TBSA) burnt were from 15%- 95% respectively moreover children were more sensitive to hospital acquired infections (HAIs) and mortality rate was 34% in children with mean age of 5 years and disability of body parts were 42% among 75% were females. Whereas the most common (HAIs) were primary bloodstream (PBS) with mean value of 30.50, wound infections (WIS) were at second prevalence with mean value of 27.50, followed by sepsis (S) and pneumonia (P) 10.33, eye infections (EIs) 4.833 and urinary tract infections (UTIs) 2.667. Factors significantly (p-value= 0.000) associated with increased duration of hospitalization caught HAIs mortality include the age and gender of the patient, the cause of burn, inhalation injury, the region affected and %TBSA burnt. It concluded that the mortality was very much dependent on age and gender of the patient, burn causes, affected area as well as % TBSA burnt are considerable factors in determining the relationship of HAIs and whether the patients will survive or knuckle to injuries. Better compliance techniques, stricter control over disinfection and sterilization practices and usage of broad spectrum antibiotics, and reduction of the environmental contamination are required to reduce the HAIs rates among burn patients.