Epidemiology of hospitalized burn patients during 5 years in Khuzestan province, Iran

Background: Infection is one of the most common causes of complication in burn patients. A severe burn injury is not only a life–threatening problem for the burned patients, but it also may have serious financial effects on the patient and society. Patients and methods: In a descriptive study, medical files of 6082 consecutive admissions for burn injury treated at Taleghani Burn Hospital over a five-year period were reviewed. Results: The mean age of patients was 22.4±16.9 years and overall male to female ratio was 1.25. Burns were more common during winter (33.6%) (p < 0.001). Fire accident was the most common cause in all age groups (66.1%), except subjects aged less than 10 years. The percent of TBSA for burned patients ranged between 1% and 100% with a mean of 38.7±29.8%. There was a correlation between TBSA percentage and age (r=0.18%). The mean and median hospital stay was 14 and 9 days, respectively, with a range of 1-311 days. There was a significant association between fire accident and hospital stay (p < 0.001). Of 6082 patients, 486 deaths were recorded (8%). E. coli in urine culture and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in blood and wound culture were the most predominant isolated bacteria. Conclusion: Preventive programs for reducing the risk of burns are needed. Furthermore, high percentage of TBSA and mortality and the presence of multi-drugs resistance bacteria are major concerns in our hospital.