Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Tissue engineering has progressed in delivering laboratory-expanded keratinocytes to the clinic; however the production of a suitable alternative to a skin graft, containing both epidermis and dermis still remains a challenge. ⋯ We describe the first key steps in the production of a skin substitute to be assembled in theatre eliminating the need for cell culture. Whilst further experiments are needed to develop this technique it can be a useful addition to armamentarium of the reconstructive surgeon.
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The aim of our study is to determine the most prevalent bacteria responsible for nosocomial infection (NI) in burned children. ⋯ The most common micro-organisms responsible for NI in our series were of the wild-type phenotype. Thus, on suspicion of sepsis, empiric antibiotic treatment combining piperacillin, oxacillin and gentamicin can be proposed until identification of the causative microorganism is available.
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Mortality rates from severe necrotising soft tissue infections are improving progressively, therefore more emphasis should be placed on assessing and improving the quality of life of surviving patients. We investigated the functional and psychological issues, ability to social integration and self-perception of appearance in such patients presenting to our unit over 4 years. To conduct the study, we used the Short Form-36 and the Derriford Appearance Scale-24, which were distributed to those willing to participate. ⋯ The capability of psychosocial adjustment was shown to improve with longer follow-up time and older age. However pain, physical limitations and energy levels were considerably more relevant in the older individuals and improved slower with time compared to psychological issues. Our results act as a good indicator of the quality of life in people dealing with the aftermath of necrotising soft tissue infections, but further, more extensive studies are required to achieve comprehensive and statistically significant results.