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. 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 post-burn period.