Epidemiology of burn-related infections in the largest burn unit in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: To first describe the epidemiological data of burns, including burn types and burn-related infections, in adult and pediatric patients. Second, to determine the effect of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on length of hospital stay and, third, to determine if the microbiological profile differs in patients with severe and non-severe burns. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review in which medical records of all burn patients admitted to Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2016 and January 2017 were reviewed for demographic, microbiological, and burn data using a data-collection sheet. No randomization was necessary as all patients were included. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on the collected data. RESULTS: Of 250 patients, 53.6% were pediatric patients and 68.4% were male patients. The most common organism in blood and wound cultures of minor burns was Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) frequency was 82.5%. Length of stay increased in patients with infected burn injuries. CONCLUSION: The pediatric population had a high frequency of burn injuries, representing an incentive for more focused educational prevention programs in that group. Additionally, burn infections carry significant morbidity, and are associated with longer hospital stay. These data can help implement various prevention programs.