The contribution of opiate analgesics to the development of infectious complications in burn patients.
BACKGROUND
Immune and infectious complications are associated with burn injury. Opiate analgesics also can induce similar complications, however, their impact on postburn infectious complications is unknown.


METHODS
A retrospective survey of records from 1997 to 2002 from an academic burn center was conducted. Information on all opiate analgesic use was obtained and expressed as opiate equivalents (OEs). Total OEs were summed for each patient and then compared between cases and controls.


RESULTS
Patients who developed infections were more likely to be in the high OE group. This association was modified by burn severity. Patients with small burns and infection were more likely to be in the high OE group, whereas patients with moderate to large burns and infections were not associated significantly with opiate use.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this preliminary study suggest that opiate analgesics can contribute to the development of postburn infectious complications when the burn injury is of a less severe nature.
Schwacha
Martin G
MG
Center for Surgical Research and Departments of Surgery, Microbiology, and Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, G094 Volker Hall, 1670 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA. schwacha@uab.edu
McGwin
Gerald
G
Hutchinson
Charles B
CB
Cross
James M
JM
Maclennan
Paul A
PA
Rue
Loring W
LW
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid