Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The impact of hospital length of stay (LOS) on the distribution and susceptibility of Gram negative bacteria (GNB) causing infection in burn patients remains unexplored. Knowledge of causative pathogens is important in guiding empiric antibiotic therapy. ⋯ This study provides objective data documenting changes in species and resistance patterns of GNB causing infection in patients admitted to a burn center as a function of hospital LOS; which may support delaying the use of broad spectrum antibiotics (e.g. carbapenems and beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors) in clinically stable patients.
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Altered skeletal muscle mitochondrial function contributes to the pathophysiological stress response to burns. However, the acute and chronic impact of burn trauma on skeletal muscle bioenergetics remains poorly understood. Here, we determined the temporal relationship between burn trauma and mitochondrial function in murine skeletal muscle local to and distal from burn wounds. ⋯ Moreover, we also observed greater active caspase 9 and caspase 3 in muscle local to burn wounds, indicating the induction of apoptosis. Distal muscle mitochondrial function was unaltered by burn trauma until 10d post burn, where both respiratory capacity (P<0.05) and coupling control (P<0.05) were significantly lower than sham. These data highlight a differential response in muscle mitochondrial function to burn trauma, where the timing, degree and mode of dysfunction are dependent on whether the muscle is local or distal to the burn wound.
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To determine the independent contribution of prognostic factors to length of hospital stay of minor and moderate burn victims at the Hospital Universitario San José (HUSJ), Popayán, Colombia, 2000-2010. ⋯ In patients admitted with mild and moderate burns at HUSJ, the main predictors of length of stay were age, burn degree and extension of the burn.
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Bioethanol-fueled fireplaces are popular interior home decoration accessories. Although their safety is promoted frequently, actual presentations of severe burn injuries in our burn intensive care unit (ICU) have focused the authors on safety problems with these devices. In this article we want to explore the mechanisms for these accidents and state our experiences with this increasingly relevant risk for severe burn injuries. ⋯ Bioethanol-fueled fireplaces for interior home decoration are a potential source for severe burn accidents even by intended use.
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Burns are frequently seen and managed in non-specialist settings. The crowding of the UK medical undergraduate curriculum may have resulted in the reduction of teaching on burns. ⋯ There seems to be a lack of consistent undergraduate training in burns management and final year students lack the experience and knowledge to initially manage burns.