Pseudomonas burn wound sepsis. I: Pathogenesis of experimental pseudomonas burn wound sepsis

Abstract

<h2>Summary</h2> The bacteriologic and clinicopathologic features of experimental Pseudomonas burn wound sepsis display an orderly sequence of progression. There is initial supraeschar and intrafollicular (hair) bacillary localization followed by more widespread intraeschar colonization. By the fourth and fifth days, bacilli have invaded to the junction of the burned and viable tissue, and at this time a low grade bacteremia becomes evident. Bacteria then invade to the zone of viable granulation tissue. During the terminal phase of the disease, the bacterial invasion front destroys the granulation tissue zone and invades the deeper tissues. This is associated with a rise in pseudomonad count in the blood stream and the appearance of visceral hematogenous lesions, leukopenia and hypothermia. The hematogenous lesions not infrequently show Pseudomonas vasculitis similar to that seen in the human disease. The details of the bacteriologic and clinicopathologic findings of burn wound sepsis in the rat are discussed in relation to its human counterpart.