Bacterial microbiota colonization analysis of burn wounds in the initial 24 hours

Abstract

Introduction: The burns wound initially is sterile, if no contaminated materials are put on the burn area or if the patient have not fell on dirty surfaces. This time gap, from 24 to 72 hours, is considered clean or sterile. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently found germ on burn wounds, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Objective: Quantitative analysis of the microbiota of the burn wounds, in the initial 24 hours of the injurie, in 25 patients from the Burns Unit of “Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba”. Methods: Samples taken with swab technic from the center and periphery of the wounds were analyzed. Results: In an amount of 50, 15 samples (60%) of the patients were tagged positive with peripheric and central colonization of microorganisms. In the sample’s central portion, 6 were colonized by Staphylococcus sp and 8 by Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: The burn wounds in the initial 24 hours are colonized with microorganisms. The main microbiota is similar to the previously consulted literature. With this conclusion, the early microbiological analysis seems pertinent to the confirmation of wound colonization and the following care to prevent its infection, contributing indirectly to the decrease of morbidity and mortality related to burning.