Previous burn injury predisposes mice to lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in glucose metabolism.

In mice, it has been demonstrated that at 7 days after burn injury, injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is more lethal than the same dose at 1 day after injury. In the present study, we examined the effect of LPS injection to mice burned 7 days previously on glucose metabolism ([(18)F] 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose [(18)FDG] uptake) in vivo. CD-1 male mice (25-28 g, Charles River Breeding Laboratories, Wilmington, MA) were anesthetized, backs shaven, and subjected to dorsal full thickness burn on 25% TBSA.

Gram-negative bacterial infection in thigh abscess can migrate to distant burn depending on burn depth.

Sepsis remains the major cause of death in patients with major burn injuries. In the present investigation we evaluated the interaction between burn injuries of varying severity and preexisting distant infection. We used Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis) that were genetically engineered to be bioluminescent, which allowed for noninvasive, sequential optical imaging of the extent and severity of the infection.

Simvastatin treatment improves survival in a murine model of burn sepsis: Role of interleukin 6.

Infection is the most common and most serious complication of a major burn related to burn size. Recent studies have demonstrated that statin treatment can decrease mortality in murine or human sepsis. In the current study mice were anesthetized and subjected to a dorsal 30% TBSA scald burn.