Microorganisms Causing Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Burn Patients: Distribution and Resistance Pattern

Objective: The risk of infection increases, particularly in children, due to the deterioration of skin integrity, which serves as a protective barrier as a result of burns, the necessity for intensive care, invasive procedures, and catheter implementations. Burn-related infections have unfavorable effects on morbidity and mortality and continue to challenge the healthcare system. In this study, we investigated the distribution and antimicrobial drug resistance of causative pathogens of bloodstream infection in children with burns. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary child care hospital between May 2015 and September 2022. Pediatric cases in which microorganisms were isolated from cultures (including blood and/or catheter) and bloodstream infection was detected are included. Results: Gram-positive bacteria were the most common causative agents of bloodstream infections in patients with burns (n= 38, 43.7%), followed by Candida species (n= 26, 29.9%) and gram-negative bacteria (n= 23, 26.4%). Gram-positive agents predominantly (n= 22; 64.7%) on the first seventh day of the burn, Candida species (%56.3, n= 9) in the second and third weeks, and gram-negative agents (%37, n= 10) after the third week were observed in bloodstream infection. Conclusion: Recognizing the time distribution of the factors detected in pediatric burn cases is critical in determining the empirical regimen to be initiated. Furthermore, the appropriate treatment regimen for the causative agent should be based on clinical strain susceptibility data, and antimicrobial colonization rates and resistance patterns of relevant centers should be properly identified.