Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
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Observational Study
Evaluation of Procalcitonin Accuracy for the Distinction Between Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacterial Sepsis in Burn Patients.
Sepsis is the main cause of death in burns. Early institution of antimicrobial therapy is crucial to optimize outcomes but superfluous therapy increases adverse events, microbial resistance, and costs. Blood cultures are the gold standard for diagnosis but can take 48 to 72 hours. ⋯ Most elevated levels were related to nonfermentative Gram-negative bacteria and by Klebsiella pneumoniae and other Enterobacteriaceae. PCT levels were significantly higher in burn patients with Gram-negative sepsis comparing to patients with Gram-positive sepsis and controls. The determination of PCT levels may help the choice of empirical antimicrobial therapy while microbiological culture results are not available, despite not fully ensuring the desirable degree of precision.
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Over the years, many cultures have used herbs for serious health problems. Garlic (Allium sativum) pose hypocholesterolemic, fibrinolytic, antidiabetic, and antibiotic actions. However, it has unusual adverse effects such as chemical burns and contact dermatitis when used topically. In this case report, the authors present two cases of topical garlic burn caused after the use of crushed garlic with a bandage for pain relief due to arthritis.