title: An Ounce of Prevention Saves Tons of Lives: Infection in Burns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modern day burn care continues to wage an uphill battle against an enemy that evolves faster than we can develop weapons. Bacteria (bioburden) are everywhere and can infiltrate anywhere within our susceptible population of burn patients. This is why prevention of infection is key to improving their survival and outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To reduce the incidence of infection in the burn patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of pertinent recent literature regarding infection prevention and control in the intensive care unit setting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We propose that bioburden is one of the central elements in the infectious cycle that is ever-present in burn units. The mechanism of bacterial entry into the unit and subsequent transmission and infection are delineated. Recommendations for mitigating this risk are provided to guide future clinicians in their care of burn patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of infection and sepsis against highly adaptable bacteria is often insurmountable by ill patients. In this process, bioburden needs to be corralled to have any success. Thus, preventing organisms from entering the unit and transferring onto other patients, and eliminating the bacteria dwelling in the unit are all necessary actions in this battle. Ultimately, maintaining a culture that is constantly wary of this risk only can achieve this goal.
authors.affiliation: 1 Ross Tilley Burn Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|2 Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto , Ontario, Canada .|3 TECC Program Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Nishant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.affiliation: 1 Ross Tilley Burn Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|2 Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto , Ontario, Canada .|3 TECC Program Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 1 Ross Tilley Burn Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .|2 Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto , Ontario, Canada .|3 TECC Program Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Marc G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Jeschke
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy