Fungal sepsis: an increasing problem in major thermal injuries

In major thermal burns there has been an alarming emergence of fungal sepsis as defined by involvement of three or more organs and/or repeated positive blood cultures. During an 18-month period, we treated 72 patients (aged 18 +/- 2 years; TBSA burn, 57 +/- 3%; percent of third-degree burn, 45 +/- 3) with fungal sepsis. In all patients with documented three-organ involvement, treatment was with intravenous amphotericin (0.5 mg/kg body weight/day), immediate wound debridement, and early wound closure. The mortality was 32% (23 patients); 49 (68%) survived infection. Sixty-two variables were reviewed retrospectively using multiple regression analysis to ascertain specific factors associated with fungal sepsis and their relationship to survival. In burn patients, fungal sepsis is a strong determinant of survival, and its occurrence overshadows traditional factors presently utilized to predict clinical outcome.     

An analysis of 550 hospitalized pediatric burn patients in Hong Kong

A total of 550 acute burn patients under the age of 15 years were admitted to the Burns Unit of Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong between March 1993 and February 1999. There were 337 males and 213 females with a male to female ratio of 1.58:1. The median age was 2.5 years and the median burn size was 5% total body surface area (TBSA). Toddlers of age < 2 years accounted for 235 (42.7%) of admission. Domestic burns resulted in 481 (87.5%) injuries followed by play-related burns that caused 34 (6.2%) admissions. Scalding was the most common cause of injury, which accounted for 497 (90.4%) admissions, followed by flame burns, which resulted in 45 (8.2%) injuries. Nine patients (1.6%) had inhalation injury requiring intubation and ventilatory support. The median hospital stay was 8 days and there was no seasonal variation in admission. The majority of patients (80.2%) had their wounds healed without any operation. Only 19 out of 550 patients (3.5%) had burns of 30% TBSA or larger, and only nine patients (1.9%) had inhalation injuries. Only one patient died in this series, which yielded a mortality rate of 0.2%.     

Cost-effective use of helicopters for the transportation of patients with burn injuries

We performed a retrospective review to analyze the use of helicopters for the transportation of patients with burn injuries to determine whether a more cost-effective approach could be developed without impairing the quality or delivery of health care. Charts were reviewed for all patients with burn injuries who were transported by helicopter to our hospitals during a 2-year period. Patients with inhalation injuries, with burn injuries received more than 24 hours before admission or more than 200 miles from our burn center, with more than 30% total body surface area (TBSA) burned, or with associated trauma injuries were excluded. Control patients with burn injuries who were transported by ambulance were identified and matched to the patients with burn injuries transported by helicopter for the percentage of TBSA burned, the percentage of third-degree burns, transport mileage, and age. The outcome was evaluated by comparison of length of stay, days on ventilator, and mortality rate. Comparisons were performed with Student t test. The transportation charge was determined for the patients transported by helicopter who we believed were eligible for transport by ambulance. Forty-seven of 85 patients transported by helicopter matched the inclusion criteria and had survived. There was no statistically significant difference between the percentage of TBSA burned, the percentage of third-degree burns, length of stay, days on ventilator, age, or transport mileage. There was, however, a significant difference in the time from the injury to admission to the hospital, as well as in the charge for transportation. Patients who had less than 30% TBSA thermal cutaneous injuries without evidence of inhalation injury, and who are less than 200 miles from a burn center may be safely transported by ambulance. Ambulance transportation may take additional time; however, stricter protocols for helicopter transportation of patients with burn injuries will result in potentially substantial savings without affecting outcomes for patients.     

Acute renal failure in intensive care burn patients (ARF in burn patients).

The purpose of this study was to establish the incidence and mortality of burn patients with acute renal failure (ARF) at the Helsinki Burn Centre and to analyze the associated factors. The files of 238 intensive care (ICU) patients of a total of 1380 burn patients admitted to our institution between November 1988 and December 2001 were studied retrospectively. Of all admitted burn patients, 17.2% needed ICU. According to our criteria (S-Cr >120 micromol/l = 1.4 mg/dl), 39.1% of the ICU patients suffered from ARF and one in three of these required renal replacement therapy. The proportion of all admitted burn patients requiring renal replacement therapy was 2.3%. The mortality of ICU patients with ARF was 44.1% whereas that of patients without ARF was only 6.9%. Renal function recovered in all survivors. The nonsurvivors had a larger burned total body surface area, were older, and had more inhalation injuries and a higher abbreviated burn severity index score. The prognosis for patients with early ARF was worse than that for patients with late ARF. Rhabdomyolysis caused by flame injury was associated with high mortality. In this study we observed that ARF is associated with higher mortality even in minor burns when compared with patients without ARF. Flame burn with rhabdomyolysis and subsequent ARF predicts very poor survival. If a patient with severe ARF survives, the renal failure recovers over time.     

Predisposing factors for self-inflicted burns

Self-inflicted burn injuries, although uncommon, are a significant source of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to delineate the characteristics of these burns and to examine their impact on society. Records of 32 adult patients admitted for self-inflicted burns at our regional burn center between January 1996 and August 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean burn size was 34 +/- 29% TBSA, with the majority of burns being the result of self-immolation using a flammable liquid. There was a slight male predominance (59%) and a significant mortality rate (25%). Ninety-one percent of patients had an active psychiatric diagnosis, with 47% having had a previous suicide attempt. Two thirds had a chronic stressor, such as a chronic medical illness and/or long-term disability. Only four patients had private insurance, whereas the remainder relied on underfunded state- and county-sponsored programs or were uninsured. In addition to well-described psychiatric factors, common characteristics predisposing to self-inflicted burns include chronic medical illnesses, long-term disability, and a lack of access to adequate mental health care. Better treatment of mental illness in the underfunded population might ultimately save the high costs of these burn injuries.     

Social support correlates with survival in patients with massive burn injury

Large burn size, inhalation injury, age, and associated trauma increase the rate of mortality after burns. However, not all patients with large burns and significant risk factors die. In this study, we wanted to determine other presenting factors that might indicate a survival benefit for burn patients with large burns. We reviewed charts of 36 patients with burns > or =60% TBSA that were aggressively resuscitated at the University of Washington Burn Center from 1990 to 2000 to determine whether survivors of large burns exhibit presenting variables that predict survival. Patients who had comfort care measures initiated at admission were excluded from this analysis. Survivors (n = 16) and nonsurvivors (n = 20) had no significant differences in age, total burn size, inhalation injury, or need for escharotomy. Full-thickness burn size was significantly smaller for survivors (58%) than for nonsurvivors (73%; P = .02). Survivors (81%) were more likely than nonsurvivors to have social support (35%; P = .007). A full-thickness burn > or =80 % TBSA was the only variable uniformly associated with mortality, suggesting that patients who survive large burns have a partial-thickness component that heals without surgery. The difference in degree of social support was one unique distinction that may impact patient survival and is worth further investigation.     

High frequency percussive ventilation in pediatric patients with inhalation injury.

The objective of this study was to present data that showed high frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) was superior to traditional mechanical ventilation for the treatment of children with inhalation injuries. Inhalation injuries continue to be the number one cause of death of patients with thermal injuries in the United States. Therapy for this condition has consisted of conservative pulmonary toilet and mechanical ventilation. Despite improvements in the management of burn injury, patients with inhalation injury develop pneumonia and pneumothorax, leading to adult respiratory distress syndrome. Unfortunately, inhalation injury that is complicated by pneumonia has been shown to increase mortality by 60% in these patients. Cioffi has shown that prophylactic use of HFPV in adult patients with inhalation injury has been a successful method of reducing the incidence of pneumonia and mortality. The effects of HFPV on the incidence of pneumonia, peak inspiratory pressures, and arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired concentration of oxygen (P/F) ratios were retrospectively studied in 13 children with inhalation injuries and compared with historic controls treated with conventional mechanical ventilation. All patients were treated with our standard inhalation injury protocol and extubated when they met standard extubation criteria. Patients ranged in age from 6 to 9 years, and most had burns covering greater than 50% of their total body surface areas. No deaths occurred in either group, but the patients who were treated with HFPV had no cases of pneumonia (P < .05), better P/F ratios (P < .05), lower peak inspiratory pressures, and less work of breathing (P < .05) as compared with our control group. On the basis of our clinical experience and data, the use of HFPV seems to be an effective treatment for the reduction of pulmonary morbidity in pediatric patients with inhalation injuries.     

Microbial contamination in burn patients undergoing urgent intubation as part of their early airway management

Inhalation injuries occur in approximately one third of all major burns and account for a significant number of deaths in burn patients each year. Previous studies have examined ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with inhalation injury, but no study to date has evaluated the incidence of bacterial contamination of the airways on admission in patients with inhalation injuries. Because pulmonary complications have been found to cause or directly contribute to mortality in as high as 77% of patients, with combined inhalation injury and thermal injury, early detection of community-acquired pneumonia may significantly alter treatment outcomes. The authors conducted a retrospective review of all burn patients with early intubation and inhalation injury admitted between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2006 who underwent bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) within 24 hours of admission. Seventy-four consecutive patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Age, sex, percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA), presence of alcohol, site of intubation, grade of injury, and BAL results were examined. Analysis revealed a patient population that was 67.6% male, with a 42.0 +/- 17.1-year-old mean age, 27.0 +/- 24.7 %TBSA average burn, 1.6 +/- 1.2 inhalation grade, 17.8 +/- 24.4 ventilator days requirement, 27.3 +/- 31.4 days of length of stay, and 21.6% mortality. BAL results were grouped into four categories: 1) No growth, 2) Normal flora, 3) <100,000 colony-forming units (cfu), and 4) >100,000 cfu. By this criteria, 13 patients (17.6%) had no growth, 22 (29.7%) had normal flora, 27 (36.5%) had <100,000 cfu, and 12 (16.2%) had >100,000 cfu on the initial BAL. Therefore, 53% grew pathogenic organisms and 16% had >100,000 cfu on BAL with initial bronchoscopy. The predominant organisms were gram-positive cocci, with Streptococcus viridans found in 15 patients (20%), Staphylococcus aureus in eight (11%), and Streptococcus pneumonia in four (6%). Analysis of the patients with the highest bacterial loads revealed that they were 75% female and had a trend toward an increased ventilator requirement and longer length of stay. Patients with combined thermal and inhalation injury requiring urgent intubation have a high incidence of bacterial bronchial contamination. Inhalation injury creates a damaged tracheobronchial mucosa and early intubation provides a portal for bacterial contamination. Further studies with a larger patient population and randomization to treatment and nontreatment of the BAL culture results may show statistically significant differences in ventilator days, length of stay, and mortality.     

Attempted Suicide by Self-Immolation is a Powerful Predictive Variable for Survival of Burn Injuries

Up to 9% of all burn victims in western countries are reported to have been caused by self-immolation with suicidal intent and usually involve extensive injuries. The authors sought to identify differences between suicide burn victims as opposed to those who sustained their injuries accidentally with regard to injury severity and mortality and determine the possible impact of suicide as a prognostic variable in the context of a scoring system such as the Abbreviated Burns Severity Index (ABSI). The data of all burns patients treated at the Specialist Burns Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Zürich, between 1968 and 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Of the 2813 patients included in the study, 191 were identified as attempted suicides, most commonly involving the use of accelerants. Thirty percent of all suicide victims had preexisting psychiatric diagnoses. Suicide victims presented with significantly more extensive burns (53.7%, ±0.98 SEM vs 21.4 %, ±0.36 SEM, P < .0001), had higher total ABSI scores (8.4, ±0.23 SEM vs 6.6, ±0.05 SEM, P < .0001), and had higher mortality rates (42.9% [83/191] vs 16.3% [426/2622]) than accident victims. Furthermore, logistic regression revealed suicide to be a significant predictor of mortality as inhalation injury (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.4-3.5, P < .0003 and odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.4-4.0, P < .0009, respectively). The odds of dying from an attempted suicide are twice as high compared with those of accident patients in the same ABSI category, making suicide a powerful predictor of mortality. The authors therefore suggest including it as a fixed variable in scoring systems for estimating a patient's mortality after burn injuries such as the widely used ABSI.     

Prophylactic intubation and continuous positive airway pressure in the management of inhalation injury in burn victims

Burn mortality statistics are influenced by age and degree of total surface body burn. The addition of an inhalation injury to a cutaneous burn results in a significant increase in mortality rate. Nine hundred fourteen patients with acute thermal injury were screened for positive history of burn in a closed space, facial or oropharyngeal burn, singed nasal vibrisae, carbonacious sputum, and clinical signs of upper airway involvement. On admission, 84 patients (9.2%) had more than one of the previously mentioned factors. They were prophylactically intubated and placed on optimum level of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV). The mortality rate among patients without inhalation injury was 7.1%, while 54.7% of patients with inhalation injury died. Comparison of burn patients with inhalation injury to those without pulmonary involvement at the same age group and with the same percentage of burn showed significantly higher mortality rate in patients with inhalation injury. The main cause of death in the first 72 h postburn (stage 1) in patients without inhalation injury was peripheral shock (10.1%) and in patients with inhalation injury was peripheral shock (15.2%) and cardiac failure (10.8%). No pulmonary related death occurred in this stage. In 3-10 days postburn period (stage 2), burn wound sepsis (10.1%) and cardiac failure (11.8%) were the major causes of death in patients with inhalation injury. In patients with inhalation injury, pulmonary sepsis (26%) was the major cause of death in this stage. Major causes of death after 10 days postburn (stage 3) in patients without inhalation injury were pulmonary sepsis (20%) and burn wound sepsis (22%). In patients with inhalation injury, burn wound sepsis (21.7%) was the main cause of death. These data suggest that prophylactic intubation and CPAP therapy in burn patients with suspected inhalation injury prevent pulmonary related death in early stage of burn. Irrespective of presence of inhalation injury, sepsis originating from the wound or respiratory tract is the main cause of death in the late stage of burn.     

Emergent burn care

The estimated 32,600,000 fires that occur annually in the United States produce over 300,000 injuries and 7,500 deaths. Ten percent of hospitalized burn victims die as a direct result of the burn. Initial evaluation and management of the burn patient are critical. The history should include the burn source, time of injury, burn environment, and combustible products. The burn size is best estimated by the Lund and Browder chart, and the burn depth is determined by clinical criteria. Pulmonary involvement and circumferential thoracic or extremity burns require detection and aggressive treatment to maintain organ viability. Hospitalization is usually necessary for adults with burns larger than 10% of the total body surface area (TBSA) or children with burns larger than 5% of TBSA. Major burns, those of 25% or more of TBSA or of 10% or more of full thickness, should be considered for treatment at a burn center, as well as children or elderly victims with burns of greater than 10% TBSA. Lactated Ringer's solution, infused at 4 ml/kg/% TBSA, is generally advocated for initial fluid restoration. After the acute phase (48 hours), replacement of evaporative and hypermetabolic fluid loss is necessary. These losses may constitute 3 to 5 liters per day for a 40% to 70% TBSA burn. Blood transfusion is often required because of persistent loss of red blood cells (8% per day for about ten days). Many electrolyte abnormalities may occur in the first two weeks. Pulmonary injury commonly is lethal. Circumoral burns, oropharyngeal burns, and carbonaceous sputum are indicative of inhalation injury, but arterial blood gas determinations, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and xenon lung scans are useful for confirming the diagnosis. Humidified oxygen, intubation, positive-pressure ventilation, and pulmonary toilet are the mainstays of therapy for inhalation injury. Wound care is initially directed at preservation of vital function by escharotomy, if restrictive eschar impairs ventilatory or circulatory function. Antibacterial agents may be applied to the burn, but invasive sepsis, defined as greater than 10(5) organisms per gram of tissue with invasion of subjacent viable tissue, requires systemic antibiotic therapy. Wound debridement is done by daily hydrotherapy, tangential excision, chemicals, primary excision, and grafting, tailoring the technique to the individual burn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Fundamentals of acute burn care and physical therapy management

The purpose of this paper is to discuss general treatment guidelines for treating patients with acute burns and to review pathophysiology of acute burn injuries. I will discuss skin composition briefly, give a review of acute burn pathophysiology and medical treatment, outline the psychological factors physical therapists should consider when working with these patients, and discuss physical therapy for the patient with acute burns. Physical therapy for patients with burns has become a specialty as knowledge of burn injuries increases. I have attempted to review physical therapy burn knowledge for inexperienced clinicians beginning to treat patients with acute burns.     

Children under 4 years are at greater risk of mortality following acute burn injury: evidence from a national sample of 12,902 pediatric admissions

It is important to have an accurate understanding of mortality risk in children to make sound treatment decisions and to advise parents and families. Several studies have found that children younger than 4 years are at greater risk for mortality from burn injury than older children, although other studies have found no difference. All of these studies, however, have been limited by small sample sizes from single burn centers. The objective of this study was to assess age-related mortality risk in a sample of more than 12,000 children from a national burn registry who were admitted to 43 burn centers in the United States from 1992 to 2002. The study showed that, compared with older children, children younger than 4 years were significantly more likely to be admitted with scalds rather than flame burns, had smaller burn injuries, and were less likely to have an inhalation injury. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess age-related mortality risk. After adjusting for sex, burn size, inhalation injury, and type of burn (flame versus scald), the risk of mortality was substantially higher for children aged 0 to 1.9 years (odds ratio, 2.70; P<0.001) and for children aged 2.0 to 3.9 years (odds ratio, 2.00; P<0.01) as compared with children aged 4 years or older. This study provides strong evidence that when comparing children based on burn injuries of similar size and etiology, children younger than 4 years are at substantial risk for death as compared with older children.     

Pediatric upper extremity burns: outcomes of emergency department triage and outpatient management.

Pediatric upper extremity burns are common. Though current American Burn Association guidelines recommend burn unit referral for burns involving the hands or major joints, many minor injuries are treated in the emergency department (ED) or outpatient setting. Despite the large number of burn patients managed by primary care providers, no large studies have been performed to assess effectiveness. A retrospective 5-year review of the epidemiology and outcomes associated with pediatric upper extremity burns treated at an urban ED was performed. Two hundred sixty-nine patients were identified. The mechanism of burn, percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA) affected, plastic surgery consultations (for wound management recommendations and additional treatment), complications, and surgical interventions were examined. Mechanisms of burn included direct contact (47%), scald (29%), flame (12%), electrical (10%), and friction or chemical (1.5%). Fifty percent of patients suffered from burns over less than 1% TBSA; close to 95% had burns on less than 5% TBSA. Seventy-five percent of patients had second-degree burns, 21% had first-degree burns, and 2% had third-degree burns. Forty patients (15%) had a plastic surgery consult. Seven patients (3%) required skin grafting. Complications occurred in five (2%) patients and included two cases of hypertrophic scarring; two patients with flexor contractures, one case of compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomy, and one late infection. These results suggest that although significant burns are usually cared for in specialized burn centers, the majority of childhood burns to the upper extremity are relatively minor and often treated in the primary care setting. Most patients had small areas of injury and healed without complications. Contact burns are an ever-increasing proportion of childhood burns and should be seemingly preventable. Education to parents and primary care physicians should be reemphasized. It appears that minor upper extremity burns treated by our urban ED staff are handled appropriately and result in favorable outcomes.     

A seven-year burn unit experience in Kayseri, Turkey: 1996 to 2002

A retrospective multifactorial epidemiological study of 742 patients admitted to Erciyes University Medical Faculty Burn Unit during a 7-year period between 1996 and 2002 is presented. The overall male-to-female ratio was 1.88:1. The highest-risk age group of burn injuries was 0 to 6 years (48.6%), with the greatest number of injuries occurring to children who were 2 to 3 years of age. Seasonal variations had no influence on the increased number of admissions to the burn unit. Scalding was the major cause of pediatric burns. Flame burns were the most frequent cause of burns in adults and the second-leading cause in children. Seventy-eight of the 742 patients died, with a mortality rate of 7.8 % in children and 12.6% and 19.23% in adult males and females, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 10.5%.     

Self-inflicted burns in Athens, Greece: a six-year retrospective study

Self-inflicted burns represent a major social and medical problem. The aim of this study was to record the epidemiology, mortality and etiology of suicide attempts by burning, in Athens, Greece. Over a 6-year period from April 1997 to April 2003, all the medical charts of the patients who were admitted to the Burn Center of the General State Hospital of Athens, Greece, with self-inflicted burns were retrospectively studied. Of the 1435 burn patients, 53 (3.69%) had attempted suicide by self-inflicted burn. Their ages ranged from 18 to 90 years old (mean 53.5 years). Females (57%) outnumbered males (43%). The mean total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 41.6% (range: 15-100%). The overall mortality rate was very high (75.4%). A preexisting psychiatric disorder was present in 43.3% of the patients. In conclusion, the extent and the depth of the burn injuries could explain the high mortality rate seen in these patients, in correlation with their negativism to the treatment. Burn care professionals should be familiar with self-inflicted burn patients who constitute a considerable proportion of major burns and require constant psychiatric support in addition to burn care.     

Impact of an inpatient rehabilitation facility on functional outcome and length of stay of burn survivors

This study reviewed the use of an inpatient rehabilitation unit for burn survivors. We hypothesized that adult burn patients admitted earlier to inpatient rehabilitation have an equal or better functional outcome than those remaining in acute burn center for rehabilitation care. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) data were prospectively collected on our burn center admissions dating January 2002 to August 2003. National rehabilitation data were acquired from eRehabData and burn literature. A total of 217 adult patients survived until hospital discharge, with 21 (9.7%) discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (REHAB). REHAB had larger burn injuries, more inhalation injuries, higher incidence hand/foot burns, and longer length of stay (LOS). REHAB had lower FIM upon rehabilitation facility admission than national averages but greater FIM improvement during comparable rehabilitation LOS. Although our earlier rehabilitation admission strategy results in more frequent rehabilitation unit referrals, patients had shorter burn center LOS and greater FIM improvement compared with limited national burn patient functional outcome data currently available.     

Thermal injury in the elderly. The limited need for nursing home care

Although it appears that survival has been increased and hospital stays have been decreased in elderly patients with burn injuries, limited information is available on the functional status of these patients at the time of discharge from the hospital. Because this information is necessary to assess more fully the success or failure of current modes of therapy, we have reviewed the records of 99 surviving patients with burn injuries over the age of 55 years. These patients had a mean age 71.8 years and a mean +/- SD burn size of 8.9% +/- 8.6%, with 36 patients having burns over greater than 10% of body surface area and 14 patients having burns over greater than 20%. The mean hospital stay of these patients was 16.9 days, and 75% of the patients required surgery to heal the burn wounds. Since just five (5%) of the 99 patients required nursing home placement at discharge, it appears that the majority of elderly patients with burn injuries recover sufficiently from the injuries to resume their preinjury life-style.     

Preventing postoperative burn wound aspergillosis

Between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 1988, 35 patients at the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Burn Center had postoperative cultures from their burn wounds that grew Aspergillus species; clinical burn-wound aspergillosis occurred in 66% of these cases and death occurred in 53% of these cases. Beginning in November 1984, several modifications in the air-conditioning system and topical antimicrobial wound therapy were undertaken. Cleaning and 8Cu-quinolinolate treatment of air ducts every 2 months did not reliably clear Aspergillus species from the air in patient care areas. Several changes in topical therapeutic regimen failed to prevent both burn wound culture positivity and clinical aspergillosis. Finally, installation of high-efficiency particulate air filters, installation of new air ducts, and inception of wound irrigation with a solution of mafenide hydrochloride plus nystatin both during and after operation were associated with a reduction in wound culture positivity rate to one occurrence in 1988 (Poisson probability less than 0.01 versus the rate in 1984) and no occurrences during the 18 months after the false ceiling of the burn ward was sealed.     

Outpatient burns: prevention and care

Most burn injuries can be managed on an outpatient basis by primary care physicians. Prevention efforts can significantly lower the incidence of burns, especially in children. Burns should be managed in the same manner as any other trauma, including a primary and secondary survey. Superficial burns can be treated with topical application of lotions, honey, aloe vera, or antibiotic ointment. Partial-thickness burns should be treated with a topical antimicrobial agent or an absorptive occlusive dressing to help reduce pain, promote healing,and prevent wound desiccation. Topical silver sulfadiazine is the standard treatment; however, newer occlusive dressings can provide faster healing and are often more cost-effective. Physicians must reevaluate patients frequently after a burn injury and be aware of the indications for referral to a burn specialist.