[Treatment of invasive burn wound infection with sepsis: a clinical study].

Objective: To further improve the treatment of burn wound sepsis.

Methods: Eight patients with burn wound sepsis, of whom 6 with MODS and two with septic shock, were treated consecutively in our hospital from September 1997 to October 1998. The plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 TNF and LPS were assayed before and after surgical intervention and at the time when the patients' vital signs became stable.

Results: (1) The patients' conditions abruptly deteriorated when the burn wound sepsis emerged. (2) The major causative factor related to burn wound sepsis was extensive burn injuries, with large area of deep burn remained open. (3) Although colonization by multiple pathogenic bacteria was found, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent bacteria isolated from the subeschar tissue. (4) The plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF and LPS before surgical intervention were significantly higher than those after surgical intervention (P < 0.05); (5) The lowest level of the inflammatory mediators were observed when the conditions of patients became stable, and the values were significantly lower compared with those before surgical intervention (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The main cause of burn wound sepsis is the presence of a large area of infected open deep burn wounds, which should be excised and covered early. LPS and pro-inflammatory mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of burn wound sepsis. Favorable results in the treatment attribute to appropriate application of multiple treatments, and early, aggressive and thorough surgical excision of invasive burn infectious tissue and closure of wounds play a crucial role.