title: Epidemiology of infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in burn patients: the role of hydrotherapy.
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains a cause of serious wound infection and mortality in burn patients. By means of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and a DNA probe for the pilin gene of Pseudomonas, a lethal strain of nosocomial P. aeruginosa was identified as the cause of an outbreak of wound infections among burn patients. Environmental surveys suggested an association of the outbreak with hydrotherapy provided to many patients in a common facility. In a trial of burn wound care without hydrotherapy, overall mortality was reduced significantly, mortality associated with pseudomonas sepsis was eliminated, and the strain of P. aeruginosa associated with earlier mortality was eradicated. Moreover, fewer nosocomial pseudomonas infections, lower levels of pseudomonas resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics, significantly fewer pseudomonas infections of skin graft donor sites, and later appearance of Pseodomonas species in burn patients were found during the period when hydrotherapy was not used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Tredget
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shankowsky
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Joffe
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Inkson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Volpel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Paranchych
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kibsey
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Alton
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics