title: Fungal Infection in Thermal Burns: A Prospective Study in a Tertiary Care Centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burn Wound Infection (BWI) is primarily caused by aerobic bacteria followed by fungi, anaerobes and viruses. There has been a worldwide decrease in incidence of bacterial infections in burns due to better patient care and availability of effective antibiotics. Consequently, the fungal burn wound infection has shown an increasing trend.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of study was to assess the frequency of fungal infections in thermal burn wounds with respect to age of wounds, total body surface involved, depth of burns and to assess common fungal pathogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 50 patients admitted with thermal burn wounds having 20-60% burns in the surgical unit. Pus swab and scrapings were taken under local anaesthesia from each burn patient. Scrapings were put in a sterile container and sent to Mycology section of Microbiology department and were examined by direct microscopy and culture studies on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar medium in the Mycology section of Microbiology department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, the incidence of fungal infection in burn wound patients came out to be 26%. The incidence of fungal infection increased with increase in Total Body Surface Area, (TBSA) increase in depth and age of burn. In our study, the maximum positive fungal cultures were seen in the third week of post-burn period. No positive culture was seen in the first week and 30.76% positive fugal cultures were seen in second post-burn week.Candida albicanswas found to be the most common organism followed by Non-albicansCandidaandAspergillus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded from the study that incidence of fungal infections in thermal burns increased with increase in post-burn period and with increasing depth and TBSA of burns.Candida albicanswas found to be the most common fungus.
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Government Medical College , Amritsar, Punjab, India .
authors: Sanjeev
authors: S
authors: Sharma
authors: Junior Resident, Department of Surgery, Government Medical College , Amritsar, Punjab, India .
authors: Deepak
authors: D
authors: Bajaj
authors: Student, Government Medical College , Amritsar, Punjab, India .
authors: Pritika
authors: P
authors: Sharma
keywords: Burn wound infection; Fungal culture; Mycoses