A Study of Sepsis in Severe Burn Patients for 5 Years

Won, Jae hee; Kim, Do hern

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was epidemiologic research on morbidity rate changes and causes of sepsis in severe burn patients, as they are highly vulnerable to sepsis which is closely related to mortality rate.
METHODS
A retrospective review was conducted on 1,026 patients admitted to Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU) of Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital from September 2011 to December 2015. Age, sex, burn size, whether the patient has inhalation injury, LOS (length of stay), LOSICU (Length of Stay in the Intensive Care Unit), and route of infection were taken into account.
RESULTS
The average age, total body surface area (TBSA), the degree of inhalation injury, abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI), acute physiology and chronic health valuation score (APACHE) II, and LOS were higher in the dead than the survivors, and the differences were statistically significant. Incidence rate of sepsis was also meaningfully higher in the dead group, 64.8%. Patients with sepsis had higher average age, degree of inhalation injury, TBSA, and LOS, showing statistically significant differences as well compared to patients without sepsis. For five years from 2011 to 2015, rates of severe burn patients diagnosed with sepsis were 43.3%, 54.3%, 46.4%, 51.9%, and 43.9% respectively.
CONCLUSION
Severe burn patients with higher age, larger burn size, and inhalation injury require more careful monitor as they are likely to be infected with sepsis. In addition, more laboratory parameters for early detection of sepsis need to be developed, so that follow-up studies can be conducted on prognostic factors correlated to sepsis.