Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of Microbiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Department of Infectious Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

5 Department of Food Science and Technology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

6 Department of Community Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Objective: About 73% of death cases in the first 5 days after burning are due to infection 
complications. The aim of this study was to identify the causing agents of infections in burn 
patients and the sensitivity pattern of them to the commonly used antimicrobials in an 
Iranian Burn center University Hospital.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients who were admitted to one of the Iranian 
Burn center University hospitals in 2009 and had nosocomial infection due to burn wound, 
whom received antimicrobial agents for therapeutic reasons, with a hospitalization period of 
more than 48 hours were enrolled. Gram stain analyses were performed to help identifying 
growing colonies. Differential tests for identification of pathogenic bacteria species were 
performed following primary tests. E-test strips of each antimicrobial were placed on the 
culture medium plate in order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration Studied 
antimicrobials for isolated Gram-negative bacteria were meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, 
ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, and for Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin, piperacillin/
tazobactam, cotrimoxazole, and cephalothin.
Findings: Only 16% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa species were sensitive to meropenem, and 
13% were sensitive to piperacillin/tazobactam. Ten out of 29 Klebsiella species (34%) were 
sensitive to meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam. All isolated strains of Staphylococcus 
aureus were sensitive to vancomycine while they were all resistant to cotrimoxazole.
Conclusion: Pseudomona, Klebsiella and Staphylococcoci are the most common species 
causing burn infection in this medical center. Results showed the importance of limiting 
irrational use of wide-spectrum antimicrobials and recommends strict management of 
infections in burn injury centers.

Keywords

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