Epidemiology of hospitalized burn patients in Taleghani Hospital during 2003-2007.

AIM The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of burn injuries refered to Taleghani Burn hospital, Ahvaz and to provide information necessary for planning and implementing an effective prevention program. MATERIAL AND METHODS The medical records of 6082 consecutive admissions for burn injury treated at Taleghani burn hospital over a five-year period (August 2003 to August 2007) were reviewed. RESULTS Our results shows that hospital stay in female was significantly longer than in male (p < 0.05). A positive significant correlation was observed between duration of hospital stay and %TBSA (chi2, p < 0.05). Of the 6082 patients, 486 deaths were recorded. The overall mortality rate of hospitalized burns patients was 8%. Mortality rate in female was higher than in male (p < 0.05). Our data showed E. coli in urine culture and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in blood and wound culture was the predominant isolated bacteria. CONCLUSION This study provides an inclusive overview of hospitalized burn patients at Taleghani burn hospital. Prevention programs for reducing the risk of burns are needed. Furthermore, high %TBSA and mortality and the presence of multi-drugs resistant bacteria are major worrying problems in our hospital (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 27).