Infection control in burn patients.

Infection in the burn patient is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and remains one of the most challenging concerns for the burn team. The importance of preventing infection has been recognized in organized burn care since it’s inception and has followed recurring themes through the years. These included strict aseptic technique, use of sterile gloves and dressing materials, wearing masks for dressing changes, and spacial separation of patients, either using private rooms or cubicles [1–4]. Certain practices have been discarded, such as routine use of prophylactic antibiotics; use of sterile sheets, introduced following the exposure method of burn treatment; and the practice of infrequent dressing changes in the early postburn period. This article will provide a comprehensive review of the epidemiology of infection in the burn patient, including factors affecting risk of colonization and infection and outbreaks that have occurred on burn units. Strategies for infection prevention and control, including unique characteristics, guidelines for culturing and surveillance, isolation of patients, environmental concerns, use of antibiotics, and recommendations for infection prevention at specific sites will be discussed.