Morphological examinations of infected burn wounds

Electron microscopical and electron radioautographic methods have been used for morphological examination. This allowed to raise sensitivity of the tests facilitating detection of living solitary bacterial cells (by intensive mark above them). Radioautography showed functional status of wound bacteria (the intensity of the metabolism and reproduction). It was determined that in living tissues, not damaged by the burn and unchanged morphologically bacteria do not penetrate. Especially massive accumulations of the microorganisms are found in necrotic tissues, under the scab, at the external border of demarcation protuberance, and they represent colonization of the wound. When modern methods of treatment and early necrectomy are used, morphological examination usually does not reveal pathogenic microorganisms. Only inflammatory reaction of the wound tissues could be seen: oedema, hyperemia, hemorrhages, cellular infiltrates. The development of granulation tissue indicated cessation of wound infection. Especially favourable feature, demonstrating healing of the wound, was appearance and reproduction of young cells of fat tissue (indusion of labelled thymidine). The results of the study have confirmed the advantage of new electronic methods for microscopy in infected burn wounds.