Infection control in severely burned patients

In the last two decades, much progress has been made in the control of burn wound infection and nasocomial infections (NI) in severely burned patients. The continiually changing epidemiology is partially related to greater understanding of and improved techniques for burn patient management as well as effective hospital infection control measures. With the advent of antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents, infection of the wound site is now not as common as, for example, urinary and blood stream infections. Universal application of early excision of burned tissues has made a substantial improvement in the control of wound-related infections in burns. Additionally, the development of new technologies in wound care have helped to decrease morbidity and mortality in severe burn victims. Many examples can be given of the successful control of wound infection, such as the application of an appropriate antibiotic solution to invasive wound infection sites with simultaneous vacuum-assisted closure, optimal preservation of viable tissues with waterjet debridement systems, edema and exudate controlling dressings impregnated with Ag (Silvercel, Aquacell-Ag). The burned patient is at high risk for NI. Invasive interventions including intravenous and urinary chateterization, and entubation pose a further risk of NIs. The use of newly designed antimicrobial impregnated chateters or silicone devices may help the control of infection in these immunocomprimised patients. Strict infection control practices (physical isolation in a private room, use of gloves and gowns during patient contact) and appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy guided by laboratory surveillance culture as well as routine microbial burn wound culture are essential to help reduce the incidance of infections due to antibiotic resistant microorganisms.     

强化血糖调控在危重烧伤患者治疗中的临床价值

目的评价强化血糖调控对危重烧伤患者治疗过程中的高血糖反应、糖代谢、创面愈合能力及预后的影响。方法选择36例严重烧伤无糖尿病史的男性患者,随机分为两组,试验组(18例)予以强化胰岛素治疗,而对照组(18例)则予以常规胰岛素治疗,两组均于伤后3~7 d内行切、削痂植皮手术,术后连续14 d每晨皮下注射重组人生长激素(rhGH)。观察两组患者血糖、血钾的变化,记录两组创面愈合时间、住院时间、并发症发生率及病死率。结果试验组治疗过程中血糖、血钾水平均显著低于对照组组(P0.05),而且试验组的创面愈合时间、住院时间、并发症发生率及病死率也少于对照组(P0.05)。结论强化血糖调控能有效控制严重烧伤后的高血糖反应和消除rhGH的副作用,促进糖代谢,缩短创面愈合时间,减少并发症发生率及病死率。     

强化血糖调控在危重烧伤患者治疗中的临床价值

目的评价强化血糖调控对危重烧伤患者治疗过程中的高血糖反应、糖代谢、创面愈合能力及预后的影响。方法选择36例严重烧伤无糖尿病史的男性患者,随机分为两组,试验组（18例）予以强化胰岛素治疗,而对照组（18例）则予以常规胰岛素治疗,两组均于伤后3~7 d内行切、削痂植皮手术,术后连续14 d每晨皮下注射重组人生长激素（rhGH）。观察两组患者血糖、血钾的变化,记录两组创面愈合时间、住院时间、并发症发生率及病死率。结果试验组治疗过程中血糖、血钾水平均显著低于对照组组（P〈0.05）,而且试验组的创面愈合时间、住院时间、并发症发生率及病死率也少于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论强化血糖调控能有效控制严重烧伤后的高血糖反应和消除rhGH的副作用,促进糖代谢,缩短创面愈合时间,减少并发症发生率及病死率。     

癌症筛查，任重而道远

因为其社会和经济效益,癌症筛查日益受到政府和社会的关注。 本文从癌症筛查现状及成效、筛查方法、存在争议和未来展望等方面,阐述和讨论癌症筛查的意义和存在问题,以期为科学、合理选择和推广适宜的癌筛查策略提供参考。     

Elevated hyaluronan blood concentrations in severely burned patients.

Hyaluronan (HYA) is a polysaccharide found in the interstitial matrix in most tissues. HYA is removed by lymphatic drainage and degraded in local lymph nodes and in the liver. Its normal concentration in human plasma is very low (10-100 micrograms l-1). Following major burn injury in sheep plasma HYA can increase to levels tenfold greater than normal. In the present study, serum HYA concentrations were determined in 10 severely burned patients (burn size: 28 +/- 5% of body surface area (mean +/- SEM)). Serum HYA concentration was 206 +/- 71 micrograms l-1 at 24 h post-injury, twice the upper normal HYA concentration, and remained moderately elevated for the first week post-injury. It appears that mobilization and transport of HYA from the tissues is increased after thermal injury. Increased systemic concentrations of an interstitial matrix component have not previously been reported in burn patients. Possibly, plasma concentrations of connective tissue components might serve as indicators of the severity and extent of burn injuries.     

Clinical review: Glucose control in severely burned patients - current best practice

Tight glucose control changed the way many burn centers practice burn ICU care. However, after the initial impressive data, various clinical trials followed that showed mixed results. The objective of the present review is to discuss recent studies in the area of burn and critical care, and to identify the current best practice for current burn care providers. We reviewed relevant publications from PubMed and selected high-impact publications on tight glycemic control in various patient populations with a focus on burn patients. We conclude that in burns there seems to be a signal that insulin administration to a target range of 130 to 150 mg/dl is beneficial in terms of morbidity and mortality without the risk of hypoglycemia.     

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human platelets: one step closer to the clinic

The era of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells carries with it the promise of virtually unlimited sources of autologous cells for regenerative medicine. However, efficiently differentiating iPS cells into fully functional mature cell types remains challenging. A new study reporting the formation of fully functional platelets from human iPS (hiPS) cells improves upon recent efforts to generate this enucleated cell type, which remains in high demand for therapeutic transfusions. Notably, their lack of nucleus renders platelets unable to retain the pluripotent or tumorigenic properties of iPS cells.     

Glutamine administration reduces Gram-negative bacteremia in severely burned patients: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial versus isonitrogenous control.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of intravenous glutamine supplementation vs. an isonitrogenous control on infectious morbidity in severely burned patients. Previous clinical studies in seriously ill patients suggest a beneficial effect of glutamine on infectious morbidity, but no trials have examined possible clinical benefits in severely burned patients. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, randomized trial. SETTING: Burn intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-six severe burn patients with total burn surface area of 25% to 90% and presence of full-thickness burns. Patients were evaluated for occurrence of bacteremia and antibiotic use during the first 30 days of their burn unit admission. Nutritional status and overall inflammation were also measured. INTERVENTION: Either intravenous glutamine or an isonitrogenous control amino acid solution was administered as a continuous infusion during burn intensive care unit stay. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of Gram-negative bacteremia was significantly reduced in the glutamine-supplemented group (8%) vs. control (43%; p <.04). No difference was seen in the incidence of Gram-positive bacteremia or fungemia. Average number of positive blood cultures, antibiotic usage, and mortality rates also were reduced but did not reach statistical significance. Significant improvements in serum transferrin and prealbumin were observed in glutamine-supplemented patients at 14 days after burn injury (p <.01 and.04, respectively). C-reactive protein was also significantly reduced at 14 days after burn injury in the glutamine group (p <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly fewer bacteremic episodes with Gram-negative organisms occurred in the glutamine-supplemented patients. Glutamine supplementation improved measures of nutrition and decreased measures of overall inflammation. In addition, a trend toward lower mortality rate, decreased overall bacteremia incidence, and antibiotic usage in the glutamine group was observed. Glutamine's beneficial effects may be a result of improved gut integrity or immune function, but the precise mechanism of glutamine's protection is unknown.