Correlation of quantitative burn wound biopsy culture and surface swab culture to burn wound sepsis

Abstract The present study includes seventeen patients with second and third degree fresh burns involving 15–50 per cent total body surface area (TBSA). Surface swabs and quantitative burn wound biopsy cultures were obtained during postburn weeks 1,2 and 3 and correlation was studied. To obtain bacterial counts the technique described by Loebel et al. (1974) was used. The patients were divided in two groups depending upon burn body surface area involved. The first group includes five patients with burns between 15–29 per cent body surface area and the second group includes the rest of the twelve patients with burns between 30–50 per cent body surface area. No patient from group I showed any sign or symptom of sepsis whereas seven patients from group II developed sepsis and three died. These three patients showed positive blood culture at the time of death. Of the 48 cultures obtained in all the patients over 3 weeks, 7 cultures showed differences between swab and biopsy cultures. Genticyn was the most effective drug against Gram-negative organisms.