title: Bacteriology of infected burn wounds in the burn wards of a teaching hospital in Southwest Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burns are characterized by the loss of varying proportions of the protective layers of the skin, depression of immune responses, and increased wound susceptibility to infection. Wound infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in burn cases. This study characterizes those factors that predispose burn wounds to infection and the bacteriology of the microorganisms in our environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of burns patients that were admitted and treated at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria between January 1 and May 31, 2010 was carried out. Information about the demographics, aetiology/mechanism of burns, interval between the time of injury and admission, microbial studies, and antibiotic therapy were collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 74 patients consisting of 43 males and 31 females were seen. The ages range between one week and 95 ± 22.42 years. Wound infections were confirmed in 28 patients (infection rate of 37.84 per 100 patients). Delayed presentation at LASUTH and length of hospital stay were significantly related to the development of wound infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis were the most common infective organisms occurring in 53.6 and 10.7 percentages respectively. The isolated organisms were resistant to the beta-lactam antibiotics and mostly sensitive to carbapenem and aztreonam preparations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors predisposing to invasive wound infections in our environment were highlighted and suggestions made on methods that could reduce the infections and thus reduce morbidity and mortality in burns.
authors.affiliation: Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Lagos State University (LASUCOM)/Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria. idfad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Idowu Olusegun
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Fadeyibi
authors.forename: Muhibat Adeola
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Raji
authors.forename: Nasiru Akanmu
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Andrew Omotayo
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ugburo
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ademiluyi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents