Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Early retrospective data identify that dysphagia is common in older persons with burn injury, suggesting a rate of 47 %, and that it is associated with medical, burn, and nutritional outcomes. ⋯ One in every two patients ≥ 75 years admitted with burn injury will demonstrate dysphagia during their hospital admission. Those with pre-existing cognitive impairment are most at risk.
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The specific relationships between total body surface area burned (TBSA), length of stay (LOS), and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infection remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between TBSA and CRKP infection and to examine whether LOS mediates the association between TBSA and the risk of CRKP infection. ⋯ The risk of CRKP infection linearly increased as TBSA or LOS increased, and LOS mediated approximately 20 % of the total association between TBSA and CRKP infection.
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We previously published the microbial profile of burn wounds managed with NexoBrid® in Pinderfields Regional Burns Centre, Wakefield, UK. Our results showed no significant changes in bacterial colonisation in burn wounds debrided with NexoBrid®. Previous studies described the antimicrobial properties of bromelain enzyme. ⋯ No zones of inhibition were observed around NexoBrid® after 18 h of incubation. Where a combination of controls and test solutions were added, no zones of inhibition were seen around the NexoBrid® wells in any of fifty tested organisms. The slightly lower infection rates observed in patients treated with NexoBrid® are more likely to be due to efficient selective debridement of necrotic skin rather than direct antimicrobial action.
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An area of rehabilitation research in burns is the impact of co-morbidities on disease trajectory. Obesity is a comorbidity of increasing public health concern, but its role remains controversial regarding burn injury and physical recovery. Our aim was to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) categories as a measure of obesity at discharge and self-reported physical function (PF) during recovery of adult burn survivors. ⋯ Being overweight was associated with improved and faster recovery of PF scores compared to normal, underweight, and obese burn patients during long-term recovery. Hence, our data suggests that long-term recovery and restoration of PF in adult burn survivors is not compromised by a small excess in body weight.
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Appearance concerns are common following burns. However, there is a lack of research investigating early psychological interventions for appearance concerns. This qualitative study explored the acceptability of early psychological interventions for appearance concerns after burns. ⋯ Early psychological interventions for appearance concerns following burns are likely to be acceptable for some patients. However, ambivalence and potential barriers remain to be addressed. Embedding early psychological interventions for appearance concerns into routine burn care could increase acceptability through normalisation.