OBJECTIVETo investigate and re-evaluate the relationship between burn wound sepsis and tissue bacterial quantity.

METHODSThirty-two patients admitted during past 5 years were enrolled in the study. Bacterial isolation and quantity in burn wound tissue were carried out. Meanwhile clinical signs were evaluated for the staging of burn wound sepsis.

RESULTS1) Bacterial invasion could be identified in 123 pieces of tissue samples from 32 patients. Samples with tissue bacterial quantity > or = 10(5)/g were found in 82 subeschar tissue samples, and 41 samples with bacteria <10(5)/g. Subeschar tissue samples with bacterial quantity > or = 10(5)/g could be determined in 68 samples from 18 patients, and < 10(5)/g in 20 samples from 5 cases. In addition, samples of subeschar tissue with bacterial quantity > or = 10(5)/g could only be found in some of the samples form 9 cases. 2) Burn wound sepsis could be classified into I-IV stages according to tissue bacterial quantification and clinical signs.

CONCLUSIONBurn wound sepsis could be established by identification of bacterial invasion into living tissue with clinical symptoms of toxemia.