title: Microbiology and antibiotic resistance in severe burns patients: A 5 year review in an adult burns unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infections are a major problem in burns patients. Knowledge of the incidence and antimicrobial sensitivities of the microorganisms commonly encountered within each institution's burns unit is important as it informs and directs empiric antibiotic therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective review of patients admitted from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012 to an adult burns intensive care unit. Specimens chosen for analysis were wound swabs, blood cultures, venous catheter tips, tracheal aspirates, sputum, urine and wound tissue. Records were accessed from the admission register and laboratory information system to obtain the relevant data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 352 patients were admitted to the adult burns intensive care unit, of which, 341 patients were included. The mortality rate was 44.6%. Flame burns were the commonest. Mortality rate amongst patients with bacteremia was 46.9%. Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were found to be the most common organisms cultured in most specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main three organisms identified in specimen cultures in our adult burns intensive care unit were A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa and MRSA. This study has helped establish a better empiric approach to the management of our septic burns patients.
authors.affiliation: Adult Burns Unit, Department of Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Electronic address: imt7@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Bahemia
authors.affiliation: Adult Burns Unit, Department of Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muganza
authors.affiliation: Adult Burns Unit, Department of Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sahid
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Menezes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D002053:Burn Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Bacteriology; Burns; Sepsis